LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

GIFT  OF 
THE   FAMILY  OF   REV.   DR.  GEORGE   MOOAR 

Class 


HISTORY  OF  THE 

TOPSFIELD    ACADEflY 

1828=1860 


UN1VEP 


UNIVERSITY 
or 


THE    TOPSFIELD,  ACADEMY. 


HISTORY 

OF 

THE    TOPSFIELD    flCflDEMY, 

BY 

M.    V.    B.    PERLEY. 


THE  LITERARY  EXERCISES  AT  THE  REUNION 

OF    THE    TEACHERS    AND    STUDENTS    OF 

THE    ACADEMY,    HELD    AUG.   12,   1897. 


EDITED    BY 


GEORGE     FRANCIS     DOW. 


1828—1860. 


TOPSFIELD,    MASS.  : 

THE    MERRILL     PRESS. 

1899. 


0\ 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

INTRODUCTION,  i 


HISTORY  OF  THE  ACADEMY. 


THE   TOWN  OF  TOPSFIELD  AND  THE  BEGINNINGS  OF  THE 

ACADEMY,  -       3 

THE  EARLY  INSTRUCTORS.  FRANCIS  VOSE,  EDWARD  D. 
SANBORN,  MOSES  P.  STICKNEY,  ALFRED  W.  PIKE, 
ASA  FOWLER,  AND  Miss  ANNA  SEARLE,  -  16 

BENJAMIN  GREENLEAF  AND  His  SUCCESSORS,  WILLIAM 
F.  KENT,  ASA  FARWELL,  EDMUND  F.  SLAFTER, 
BURTON  O.  MARBLE,  DANIEL  O.  QUINBY,  JOSEPH 
H.  No  YES,  AND  KINSMAN  ATKINSON,  -  27 

THE  PERIOD  OF  GREATEST  ACTIVITY.     GEORGE  CONANT 

AND  J.  W.  HEALY,        -  -     40 

OBEDIAH  D.  ALLIS,  ALBERT  I.  DUTTON,  AND  THE  LAST 

DAYS  OF  THE  ACADEMY,  -     53 

THE    ACADEMY    EDIFICE.     ITS  LATENT  LIFE  AND  MEED 

OF  PRAISE,  -     70 


LITERARY  EXERCISES  AT  THE  REUNION. 

•*w 

PAGE 

ADDRESS  OF  WELCOME,  BY  J.  K.  COLE,     -  77 

ORATION,  BY  J.  W.  PERKINS,  81 

ODE,  BY  EUGENE  TAPPAN,    -  88 

POEM,  BY  GEORGE  CONANT,    ,   -  -      89 

REMINISCENT  ADDRESS,  BY  REV.  G.  L.  GLEASON,  97 

ADDRESS,  BY  JUDGE  I.  W.  ANDREWS,  107 

ADDRESS,  BY  GEORGE  CONANT,        -  109 

ADDRESS,  BY  REV.  ALFRED  NOON,       -  no 

PARTING  SONG,  AULD  LANG  SYNE,  112 

LETTERS  FROM  ABSENT  TEACHERS  AND  STUDENTS,             -  -     113 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

TOPSFIELD  ACADEMY,       -  -        Frontispiece 

REV.  MOSES  P.  STICKNEY,    -  13 

ASA  FOWLER,       -  -      -  21 

BENJAMIN  GREENLEAF,  -  29 

REV.  EDMUND  F.  SLAFTER,       -  -       -  33 

DANIEL  O.  QUINBY,    -  -  37 

REV.  JOSEPH  W.  HEALY,  -       -  45 

MR.  AND  MRS.  AUSTIN  HAZEN,  -                                               -  61 

REV.  AUSTIN  HAZEN,      -  69 

MAP  OF  TOPSFIELD,   -  ....  76 

GEORGE  CONANT,  -      -  89 


HISTORY    OF   THE   TOPSFIELD    ACADEMY. 
1828-1860. 


INTRODUCTION. 


To  the  Topsfield  Historical  Society  was  due  the  inception 
of  the  reunion  of  the  teachers  and  students  of  the  old  Topsfield 
Academy,  but  to  the  enthusiastic  cooperation  of  the  students  of 
uauld  lang  syne,"  was  largely  due,  the  instant  success  of  the  re- 
union, held  on  an  August  day,  when  Nature's  brightest  smiles 
strove  to  make  the  day  one  of  dearest  memory. 

The  morning  trains  brought  many  from  a  distance,  and 
every  winding  road  paid  its  tribute  as  the  noon  hour  drew  near. 
Lunch  was  served  in  the  Town  Hall,  by  resident  students  of  the 
Academy,  and  an  informal  reception  followed,  with  many  happy 
renewals  of  old  acquaintance  ;  men  and  women  who  had  not  seen 
each  other  for  fifty  years  or  more,  recalled  the  bygone  days,  and 
many  were  the  effecting  scenes  and  incidents.  As  the  hour  for  the 
literary  exercises  drew  near,  a  large  number  of  students  grouped 
themselves  about  the  entrance  to  the  Hall,  and  were  photo- 
graphed, in  memory  of  the  day.  The  Hall  presented  a  beautiful 
picture,  as  flowers  were  abundantly  used  in  decoration,  the  speak- 
ers platform  being  completely  hidden  by  masses  of  ferns,  sweet 
peas,  and  other  flowers,  and  when  the  chairman,  Jefferson  K. 
Cole,  of  Peabody,  called  the  assemblage  to  order,  he  faced 
an  audience  that  taxed  its  seating  capacity.  Nearly  three  hun- 
dred of  those  present  attended  the  old  Academy  at  some  time  in 
its  history.  Rev.  Alfred  Noon,  of  Boston,  offered  prayer,  and 
was  followed  by  Mr.  Cole,  who  delivered  an  address  of  welcome, 
in  which  he  recalled  many  scenes  and  incidents  of  Academy 


2  THE  TOPSFIELD    ACADEMY. 

days.  Prof.  John  W.  Perkins,  of  Salem,  delivered  the  oration. 
His  topic  was  the  personal  and  local  side  of  education.  This 
address  was  replete  with  timely  thoughts,  and  was  frequently 
applauded.  Prof.  George  Conant,  of  Pasadena,  California,  who 
was  principal  of  the  Academy  in  1852,  read  an  original  poem. 
This  was  followed  by  the  ode,  written  by  Eugene  Tappan, 
Esq.,  of  Boston.  Mr.  Nathan  Dane  Dodge,  of  Newbury- 
port,  conducted  the  singing.  Mr.  M.  V.  B.  Perley,  of  Ipswich, 
then  delivered  the  historical  address,  an  able  record  of  the  glories 
of  the  old  Academy,  that  was  greatly  appreciated.  A  reminis- 
cent address,  by  Rev.  George  L.  Gleason,  of  Haverhill,  carried 
memory  back  to  "the  days  that  used  to  be."  Brief  addresses 
followed  from  Hon.  Israel  W.  Andrews,  of  Danvers ;  Prof. 
George  Conant,  who  asked  those  present  who  were  instructed 
by  him,  in  1852,  to  rise  in  their  seats,  and  the  surprising  num- 
ber, twenty-eight,  responded.  Rev.  Alfred  Noon,  John  W. 
Porter,  Esq.,  of  Danvers,  and  Eugene  Tappan,  Esq.,  spoke 
briefly.  The  exercises  concluded  by  singing  a  hymn  to  the  tune 
of  "Auld  Lang  Syne,"  Rev.  Francis  A.  Poole,  pastor  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  of  Topsfield,  pronouncing  the  benedic- 
tion. Seated  on  the  platform,  with  the  speakers,  was  Deacon 
John  J.  Gould,  of  Ipswich,  who  attended  the  Academy  in  1830. 
The  following  committee,  Justin  Allen,  M.  D.,  Charles  J. 
Peabody,  Benjamin  J.  Balch,  Joseph  B.  Poor,  Henry  W.  Lake, 
Albert  M.  Dodge,  Mrs.  Sarah  K.  (Leach)  Woodbury,  Mrs. 
Ellen  A.  (Hood)  Welch,  Mrs.  Catharine  (Gould)  Perkins,  and 
George  Francis  Dow,  members  of  the  Topsfield  Historical 
Society,  or  resident  students  of  the  Academy,  arranged  and 
carried  to  a  successful  conclusion  the  first,  and  probably  the  last, 
reunion  of  the  teachers  and  scholars  of  the  Topsfield  Academy. 


CHAPTER   I, 

THE  TOWN  .OF  TOPSFIELD   AND   THE    INCORPORATORS 
OF  THE   ACADEMY. 


Every  mortal  has  his  birth,  his  life,  and  his  death,  or  as  we 
are  taught,  his  change  of  life,  and  after  that  the  judgment ; 
so,  many  human  institutions,  particularly  those  of  mental  and 
moral  design,  have  their  birth  and  life,  and  change  in  the 
sphere  and  manner  of  their  activity,  and  after  that  a  judg- 
ment. 

Topsfield  Academy  is  a  case  in  point;  she  has  pursued 
the  common  path,  as  if  impelled  by  a  common  trolley.  The 
day  of  her  birth  was  one  of  joy  throughout  the  grand  old 
borough ;  her  life  was  a  gem,  every  facet  of  which  reflected 
its  own  peculiar  attractive  color  and  brilliancy  and  beauty ; 
her  changed  activity  now  lives  hidden  in  a  thousand  measures 
of  meal,  and  we,  today,  filial  in  our  love  and  devotion,  with 
breadth  of  view,  cognizant  of  results,  and  just  in  our  estimate 
(as  she  ever  taught  us),  review  her  life  and  accord  to  her 
her  proper  meed  of  praise. 

The  birth  of  this  institution  was  during  an  academical 
period.  The  spirit  of  education  was  rife  ;  the  time  was  op- 
portune. From  1628  at  Salem,  almost  to  1828  at  Topsfield, 
when  this  Academy  was  instituted;  from  1634  at  Ipswich, 
of  which  town  Topsfield  was,  eighteen  years,  a  part ;  from 
1650,  the  date  of  Topsfield's  incorporation  ;  from  King  Phil- 
lip of  Mt.  Hope  to  King  George  III  of  England,  even  to 
1815,  when  closed  the  war  that  wrung  from  the  mother 
country  the  last  prerogatives  of  our  nationality,  the  history 
of  this  people  would  be  a  well-written  history  of  the  wars. 
Indeed,  it  was  the  first  opportunity,  when  the  people,  free 
in  their  nationality,  big  with  the  possibilities  of  free  institu- 
tions, and  persuaded  of  the  value  of  moral  culture  and 

(3) 


4  THE  TOPSFIELD    ACADEMY. 

practical  learning  as  a  corner-stone  of  an  enduring  republic, 
could  hopefully,  earnestly  and  practically,  pursue  and  culti- 
vate the  arts  of  peace. 

At  this  time  the  spirit  of  education  was  rife — it  brooded 
with  propitious  wing  over  the  entire  country.  Time  fails 
me  to  tell  you  of  the  Gideons,  the  Davids,  and  the  Samuels, 
who,  through  an  inspiring  faith,  wrought  righteousness, 
escaped  the  edge  of  the  sword,  out  of  weakness  were  made 
strong,  waxed  valiant  in  fight,  and  turned  to  flight  the 
armies  of  the  aliens.  Many  of  these  men  were  college- 
bred  ;  they  were  of  high  social  culture,  and  they  realized,  as 
we  did  not,  and  as  we  cannot  even  now,  the  sentiment  of  the 
legend  raised  for  years  over  the  rostrum  of  the  Academy : 
"Knowledge  is  Power."  They  instituted  public  and  private 
schools  as  soon  as  there  were  pupils  to  attend  them.  From 
that  early  day,  during  all  the  trying  vicissitudes  of  ancestral 
life,  the  week-day  when  the  school  door  was  not  open  to  the 
inquiring  student  has  no  date.  Through  all  those  years, 
school  privileges  abounded,  as  opportunities  were  possible, 
and  means  could  be  afforded.  The  public  school  was  emi- 
nently practical,  and  the  private  school  was  no  less  practical 
in  meeting  a  higher  demand.  There  was  no  conflict,  each 
rejoiced  in  the  growth  of  the  other,  and  each  maintained 
her  relative  ratio  of  numbers.  Gov.  Dummer  early  scented 
the  sweet  aroma  of  this  century  plant,  and  endowed  his 
academy  in  1763;  Phillips  followed  at  Andover  in  1780. 
A  radical  change  in  the  common  system  was  inaugurated 
about  1800,  towns  being  divided  into  school  districts,  pru- 
dential committees  chosen,  and  school  work  and  government 
made  comparatively  definite  and  positive.  From  1806  to 
1820,  Mr.  Felt,  the  historian,  counted  no  less  than  seventy- 
five  advertisements  of  private  schools. 

At  the  time  of  the  institution  of  this  Academy,  this  cen- 
tury plant,  so  cherished  and  cultivated  by  our  ancestors,  and 
so  hopeful  in  its  fruition,  was  about  to  spread  its  broad  pet- 
als and  distill  upon  the  balmy  air  the  richness  of  its  treasured 
sweetness.  The  common  school,  so  recently  established  on 
its  new  vantage  ground,  was  now  to  be  supplemented  by 
a  permanent  higher  grade  of  moral  and  educational  training 
within  the  means  of  the  common  people,  and  a  permanent 


THE   TOWN   OF    TOPSFIELD.  5 

connecting-link  between  the  common  school  and  the  college 
was  to  be  established. 

Nine  academies  in  our  immediate  vicinity  were  instituted 
in  thirteen  years.  "The  Trustees  of  Merrimack  Academy" 
at  Groveland  were  incorporated  Feb.  7,  1822  ;  "The  Visitors 
of  the  Theological  Institution  in  Phillips  Academy  in  Ando- 
ver,"  Jan.  17,  1824;  "The  Proprietors  of  Haverhill  Academy," 
Jan.  28,  1828  ;  "The  Proprietors  of  Ipswich  Academy,"  Feb. 
28,  1828;  "The  Proprietors  of  Topsfield  Academy,"  June  12, 
1828  ;  "The  Trustees  of  Abbot  Female  Academy,"  Andover, 
Feb.  26,  1829;  "The  Proprietors  of  Boxford  Academy," 
March  4,  1831  ;  "Lynn  Academy  in  the  Town  of  Lynn," 
March  13,  1832;  "Beverly  Academy,"  Feb.  7,  1835. 

Topsfield  was  part  and  parcel  of  that  ancestral  avalanche 
of  educational  force.  She  had  her  Winthrop  who  left  his 
name  to  a  commanding  elevation  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
town,  and  who,  in  1642,  sold  for  ^250,  300  acres  of  'land 
"situate  in  the  hamlett,  village  or  place  called  Toppesfeild* 
in  the  parish  of  Ipswich"  ;  she  had  her  Bradstreets,  Perkins, 
and  Peabodys ;  her  Cleavelands,  Merriams,  and  Cummings ; 
her  Goulds,  Balches,  and  Howletts ;  her  Hoods,  Townes, 
and  Averills  ;  her  Clarks,  Lamsons,  and  Kimballs  ;  a  host  of 
worthies.  She  appreciated  the  golden  opportunity  and  re- 
joiced, as  an  Elisha,  in  the  cast  mantle  of  the  fathers. 

But  besides  these  common  inheritances,  she  had  two  others 
peculiarly  her  own.  She  was  centrally  located  and  "beauti- 
ful for  situation." 

The  Newburyport  Turnpike  had  contributed  to  the  former 
of  these  for  twenty-five  years,  telling  daily  the  news  and 
business  of  cities  south  and  north  The  crack  of  the  coach- 
man's whip  and  the  chuck  of  heavy-laden  dray-wheels  had 
been  heard  upon  the  north-west  and  west,  for  many  years. 

*This  is  the  earliest  known  record  of  the  name  as  applied  to  this  ter- 
ritory. The  phrase  here  quoted  is  found  in  a  deed,  dated  March  20, 
1642,  and  given  by  John  Winthrop,  Gent.,  of  New  England,  then  resid- 
ing in  London,  England,  to  Edward  Parks,  citizen  and  merchant-taylor 
of  London,  England.  The  deed  conveyed  land  whose  south-east  bound 
was  six  feet  from  the  spring  in  the  present  northern  boundary  of  Tops- 
field;  whose  north-west  was  near  the  old  gate  leading  to  the  residence 
of  the  late  Emerson  Howe;  whose  north-east  was  probably  just  east  of 
the  Corp.  John  Foster  estate. 


6  THE  TOPSFIELD    ACADEMY. 

Three  stages  passed  daily  between  Boston,  Salem  and  New- 
buryport,  and  one  between  Salem  and  Haverhill,  and  three, 
mails  were  each  day  opened/  This  village  was  in  daily  touch 
with  every  part  of  the  county.  Here  was  the  central  relay 
of  horses.  Here  were  brought  merchandise  and  passengers, 
and  political  and  literary  conventions.  Here  convened  the 
famous  Essex  Junto,  Oct.  6,  1808,  whose  voice  national  in  its 
influence,  waked  the  echoes  of  the  gilded  dome  and  vibrat- 
ed along  the  corridors  of  the  White  House  ;  here  followed  the 
great  anti-junto,  Feb.  20,  1809;  here  the  Essex  County  Ag- 
ricultural Society  held  its  first  exhibit,  Oct.  5,  1820;  here 
was  the  great  Lyceum  convention,  Dec.  30,  1829,  backed  by 
such  men  as  Edward  Everett,  Daniel  Webster,  and  Horace 
Mann ;  here  the  Essex  County  Natural  History  Society  or- 
ganized, April  1 6,  1834;  and  here  also  the  Essex  County 
Teachers'  Association  had  its  birth.  The  central  location 
was  an  advantage  of  expanding  value,  and  demanded  stren- 
uous exertions  to  be  further  utilized. 

[Of  the  Lyceum  convention,  Hon.  Daniel  Appleton  White 
wrote :  It  was  "a  large  concourse  of  gentlemen  of  influence. 
I  do  not  remember  ever  to  have  witnessed  a  more  interesting 
and  enlightened  assembly.  Very  animated,  earnest,  and 
protracted  debates  took  place.  By  a  full  but  close  vote," 
the  following  resolutions  were  adopted: — Resolved,  that  it 
is  desirable  to  establish  a  general  lyceum  for  Essex  County 
— that  previous  to  such  formation,  local  lyceums  should  be 
established  in  the  several  towns — that  a  committee  be  ap- 
pointed by  this  meeting  to  prepare  a  circular  letter  and  ad- 
dress it  to  suitable  persons  in  each  town  in  the  county — to 
call  a  general  meeting  to  adopt  a  constitution — to  draft  a 
form  of  constitution.  Mr.  Vose  was  placed  on  the  commit- 
tee, and  the  meeting  for  adopting  a  constitution  was  called 
at  Ipswich  Hotel,  at  10  o'clock,  on  March  17,  1830.  The 
object  of  the  lyceum  was  "the  improvement  of  its  members 
in  useful  knowledge  and  the  advancement  of  popular  educa- 
tion, by  reading,  conversation,  discussions,  dissertations,  il- 
lustrating the  sciences,  or  other  exercises,  which  shall  be 
thought  expedient ;  and  as  it  is  found  convenient  will  be 
procured  a  cabinet  consisting  of  books,  apparatus  for  illus- 
trating the  sciences,  plants,  minerals,  and  other  natural  or 


MISS  FLOYD'S  ACADEMY.  7 

artificial  productions."  The  title  used  by  the  committee  was 
Confederation,  or  Convention,  of  Lyceums.  Topsfield  had 
another  meeting  Jan.  18,  1830. — Essex  Hist.  Coll.,  vol.  p, 
part  2,  p.  50,  and  vol.  18,  p.  293. ,] 

Her  "beauty  for  situation"  had  been  long  recognized  ;  her 
rural  quiet  and  social  amenities  long  attested ;  her  village 
homes  and  farm  villas  indicated  persistent  diligence,  a  learned 
intelligence  and  stored  wealth ;  the  lake  and  river  were  an 
added  charm  to  her  landscape,  and  invited  to  aquatic  sports ; 
her  hills  afforded  a  great  variety  and  extent  of  scenic  beauty 
of  land  and  ocean.  Not,  however,  that  she  so  far  excelled 
her  sisters ;  but  that  these  natural  gifts,  each  enhancing  the 
value  of  the  other,  made  her  the  first  choice  of  towns  for 
academic  life. 

Topsfield  was  a  pioneer  in  establishing  the  new  system  of 
schools.  "Miss  Floyd's  Academy"  was  located  here  as  early 
as  1819*.  Preceding  this  or  succeeding  it,  or  both  and  the 
while,  was  Mrs.  A.  P.  Curtis  and  Lydia  R.  Ward's  Academy. 
Mrs.  Curtis'  school  is  mentioned  as  late  as  1827.  The  ses- 
sions of  Miss  Floyd's  Academy  were  held  at  Dr.  Nehemiah 
Cleaveland's  house,  and  it  may  be  that  a  knowledge  of  her 
success  placed  the  Doctor  among  the  foremost  advocates  of 
a  public  academy. 

The  original  document,  the  initial  formal  action,  in  relation 
to  this  school,  reads  as  follows:  — 

"Our  country  has  already  risen  to  a  high  rank  in  civiliza- 
tion and  mental  culture ;  and  the  present  period  is  distin- 
guished for  the  rapid  improvement  in  almost  every  useful  art 

*We  have  been  shown,  by  Mrs.  N.  Rawson  Underbill,  of  Ipswich,  a 
manuscript  book  whose  title  page  reads  thus  : — "Miscellaneous  Exer- 
cises on  Composition  by  Lucy  Martin  of  Salem,  at  Miss  Curtis  and  Miss 
Floyd's  school,  Salem,  June  12,  1816."  The  latest  date  in  the  book  is 
July  18,  1819. 

Abigail    Floyd. 

Informs  her  friends  and  the  public,  that  she  will  open  a  SCHOOL  on 
the  first  Monday  in  April,  in  the  chamber  over  Mr.  Stearns'  store,  Essex 
Street,  formerly  occupied  by  Mr.  Blydon  for  that  purpose,  where  she 
will  teach  Reading,  Writing,  Arithmetic,  English  Grammar,  Rhetoric, 

Composition  and  Needle-Work  Also  an  intermediate  School  from  1 1 

to  i  o'clock. — Salem  Gazette,  Mar.  17,  1809. 


8  THE  TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

and  science.  We  the  undersigned  fully  believing  that  the 
town  of  Topsfield  is  very  favorably  located  for  an  Academy, 
and  desirous  to  keep  pace  with  the  country,  while  we  secure 
to  ourselves  and  posterity  the  means  of  acquiring  useful 
knowledge,  agree  to  pay  the  sum  or  sums  annexed  to  our 
respective  names,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  building  or 
buildings  suitable  for  an  academy  in  said  town,  the  site  to  be 
hereafter  selected  by  the  promoters1  of  the  aforesaid  object 
and  whoever  may  have  the  munificence  to  endow  the  institu- 
tion, it  is  our  most  cordial  wish,  and  design,  that  it  thall  bear 
His  name  forever,  with  the  privilege  of  appointing,  while 
living,  all  the  Trustees,  of  which  body  He  himself  shall  be 
the  President. 

Topsfield,  May  8  day  1827. 

Jeremiah  Stone  $50     pd.$25 

Thomas  Emerson  100 

Nathl.  Perley  25 

Frederick  Perley  25 

Joel  Lake  20 

Jerry  White  10 

Corneleus  Bradstreet  50  paid 

Edward  Hood  25 

Isaac  Killam  50 

Moses  Wright  20 

John  Sawyer  20 

John  Wright  20 

Benjamin  C.  Perkins  25          paid 

John  Lamson  40 

This  paper  seems  to  have  been  intended  as  a  suggestion, 
but  their  active  purpose  could  not  wait  for  respondents  to 
grow,  and  the  following  action  matured  in  the  next  Septem- 
ber:— 

"  We  the  subscribers  do  hereby  covenant  and  agree  together, 
and  do  hereby  severally  promise  to  pay  the  sums  set  to  our 
respective  names  to  be  appropriated  to  the  sole  purpose  of 
procuring  a  proper  site  and  erecting  thereon,  a  suitable  build- 
ing for  the  exclusive  purpose  of  keeping  such  high  school 
or  schools  therein,  of  either  or  of  both  sexes,  as  shall  from 
time  to  time  be  agreed  upon  by  the  proprietors  or  by  those 


THE    SUBSCRIPTION   PAPER.  9 

to  whom  the  management  of  the  same  shall  be  entrusted ; 
and  we  do  hereby  severally  promise  to  pay  said  sums  at  such 
times  and  in  such  proportions  as  shall  be  required  by  any  com- 
mittee duly  authorized  to  receive  the  same,  and  it  is  hereby 
agreed  that  in  all  proceedings  hereafter  to  be  had  in  the 
premises,  each  subscriber  shall  be  entitled  to  one  vote  for 
every  twenty  dollars  by  him  or  her  subscribed,  provided 
however,  that  no  person  shall  give  more  than  ten  votes  in  his 
or  her  own  right, To  the  prompt  and  faithful  perform- 
ance of  all  that  is  above  written  we  do  hereby  jointly  and 
severally  bind  ourselves  and  our  respective  heirs. 

Witness  our  hands  this  sixth  day  of  September  1827. 

William  Munday  $100  Paid 

Billy  Emerson  100  " 

John  Rea  Jr  100  " 

N.  Cleaveland  100  " 

Frederic  J.  Merriam  IOO  " 

Moses  Wildes  100 

Jacob  Towne  Jun  IOO  " 

Samuel  Gould  100  " 

R.  Merriam  100  " 

Wm.  N.  Cleaveland  50 

Solomon  Wildes  IOO  " 

Gilbert  Brownell  IOO  " 

Ephm  Wildes  IOO  " 

Sam'l  Hood  50 

Thos.  Emerson  100  " 

Nathl.  Perley  25 

Frederick  Perley  25 

Joel  Lake  20  " 

John  Dwinell  IOO  " 

Isaac  Killam  50  " 

Moses  Wright  20  " 

John  Sawyer  25  " 

Jeremiah  Stone  25  " 

Edward  Hood  25 

John  Lamson  40  " 

R.  G.  Dennis  25  "     " 

The  building  was  begun  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  but  a  se- 


IO  THE  TOPSFIELD     ACADEMY. 

vere  cold  coming  on  in  October  (when  Jack  Frost  through 
out  the  country  placed  an  embargo  on  unharvested  pota- 
toes and  confiscated  thousands  of  bushels),  the  lumber  was 
piled  till  the  next  year.  The  structure  was  45  by  36  feet  on 
the  ground,  two  stories  high,  was  covered  by  a  hip-roof, 
which  was  surmounted  by  a  belfry  in  the  center,  whose  bell 
one  of  the  worthy  instructors  used  to  say  was  toned  to  the 
key  of  P.  Each  story  contained  a  large  school-room  with 
ante-room  and  stairway.  A  writer,  in  the  Salem  Gazette, 
about  that  time  records :  "The  building  is  perfectly  and 
commodiously  finished,  in  two  departments,  upper  and  low- 
er, with  blinds  to  the  whole  house.  It  is  on  an  elevated,  and 
most  beautiful  spot,  a  little  retired  from  the  public  road." 

The  land  was  purchased  of  Dr.  Nehemiah  Cleaveland, 
3  acres  and  59  rods,  for  $637.50.  and  was  conveyed  by  deed 
dated  Oct.  23,  1828.  An  entrance  upon  the  land  was  near 
the  blacksmith-shop,  in  low  ground,  it  is  said,  and  unfitted 
for  the  purposes  of  a  school.  The  present  entrance  on 
Main  Street  was  purchased  of  John  Rea,  Jr.,  guardian  of 
Harriet  Josephine  Emerson,  minor  daughter  of  Joseph  Em- 
erson (and  late  the  wife  of  Charles  H  Holmes,  Esq.,  long 
known  as  the  tallest  man  in  the  county),  12.7  square  rods, 
for  $17,  and  was  conveyed  by  deed  dated  June  10,  1829. 

The  following  names  appear  in  the  act  of  incorporation  : 
Nehemiah  Cleaveland,  who  was  a  leading  physician  and  in 
practice  here  many  years ;  Samuel  Hood,  who  was  a  car- 
penter by  trade,  a  house-wright  and  master  builder.  He 
was  master-carpenter  on  the  Franklin  Building,  Salem,  and 
on  other  noted  structures, — and  was  chairman  of  the  Acad- 
emy building-committee,  and  the  contractor  and  builder  of 
it;  Billy  Emerson,  who  was  the  most  extensive  general  tra- 
der Essex  County  ever  had,  and  of  whom  it  is  said,  he 
could  journey  to  Canada  (as  he  used  to)  and  stop  at  his 
own  hotel  every  night;  Jacob  Towne,  Jr.,  who  was  town- 
clerk  for  twenty  years ;  Isaac  Killam,  who  was  a  captain  in 
the  militia  and  an  independent  farmer ;  Moses  Wildes,  who 
was  a  blacksmith  and  counted  among  the  wealthy  citizens ; 
Samuel  Gould,  who  was  a  grocer,  and  who  exercised  many 
town  offices;  Frederick  J.  Merriam,  who  was  extensively 
engaged  in  both  trading  and  farming,  (is  styled  "drover,"  in 


THE  INCORPORATION  OF  THE  ACADEMY.       I  I 

the  Salem  Gazette,  April  25,  1835);  John  Rea,  Jr.,  who 
kept  a  hotel  where  Mr.  John  Bailey's  residence  now  is,  who 
was  later  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  and  afterwards  a  farmer  in 
New  Brunswick ;  William  N.  Cleaveland,  who  was  some- 
time a  manufacturer  at  "The  Mills,"  Byfield,  and  later  a 
wealthy  farmer  in  Boxford ;  Jeremiah  Stone,  M.  D.,  who 
was  a  skillful  physician,  located  in  town  about  eight  years, 
and  afterward  removed  his  practice  to  Provincetown,  where 
he  died ;  Moses  Wright,  who  was  a  captain  in  the  militia, 
and,  it  is  believed  a  boot-manufacturer  in  Topsfield  and  in 
Georgetown  where  he  later  made  his  home ;  Edward  Hood, 
who,  in  modern  phrase,  was  a  cattle-broker,  and  conducted  a 
large  business ;  Nathaniel  Perley,  who  was  a  General  in  the 
militia,  and  kept  a  country  store,  till  he  sold  to  Benjamin 
Perley  Adams,  and  removed  to  Danvers.  The  property  is 
now  owned  and  occupied  by  Joseph  Bailey  Poor,  a  general 
merchant.  The  act  of  incorporation  further  states  that 
the  above  named  persons  together  with  such  other  per- 
sons as  now  are,  or  may  hereafter  be  associated  with  them 
and  their  succeasors  *  *  shall  be  a  corporation  by  the 
name  of  the  "Proprietors  of  Topsfield  Academy;"  that  by 
that  name  the  institution  "may  sue  and  be  sued  ;"  may  have  a 
common  seal,  and  may  purchase  and  hold  any  real  and  per- 
sonal estate  not  exceeding  $30,000  in  value,  and  may  at  any 
legal  meeting  make  and  establish  rules,  orders  and  by-laws 
for  the  well  ordering  and  governing  the  affairs  of  said  cor- 
poration provided  the  same  are  not  repugnant  to  the  laws 
of  the  Commonwealth,  and  may  annex  penalties  for  the 
breach  of  any  such  rules,  orders  or  by-laws,  and  the  said 
corporation  is  hereby  vested  with  all  the  powers  necessary 
for  carrying  into  effect  the  purposes  of  this  act;  and  further 
that  the  property  of  said  corporation  shall  be  divided 
into  shares,  and  the  proprietors  of  said  shares,  at  any  legal 
meeting  may  make  assessments  upon  the  shares  for  the  use 
of  said  corporation  and  the  same  collect,  in  such  way  and 
manner  as  may  be  agreed  upon,  and  all  votes  shall  be  deter- 
mined by  a  majority  of  the  voters  present,  counting  one 
vote  to  each  share  provided  no  one  member,  in  his  own 
right  shall  have  more  than  ten  votes,  and  the  share  of  any 
proprietor  who  shall  be  delinquent  in  paying  any  assessment 


12  THE   TOPSFIELD     ACADEMY. 

may  be  sold  at  auction  for  the  payment  thereof,  by  the  per- 
son appointed  to  collect  the  same,  giving  due  notice  of  the 
time  and  place,  and  after  paying  the  assessment  and  all  the 
necessary  incidental  charges,  the  overplus  money,  if  any, 
arising  from  the  sale,  shall  be  paid  to  the  delinquent  pro- 
prietor, and  the  shares  shall  be  deemed  personal  estate  and 
the  proprietors  may  establish  the  manner  of  transferring  the 
same ;  also,  that  said  corporation  may  appoint  all  necessary 
officers  and  with  such  authority  as  by  their  by-laws  they  may 
establish  for  the  due  management  of  its  affairs  and  the  reg- 
ulation of  the  school;  and  that  the  said  Jacob  Towne  Jr., 
may  call  the  first  meeting  and  appoint  the  time  and  place 
thereof:  provided  nevertheless,  that  nothing  in  this  act  shall 
be  so  construed  as  to  prevent  the  Legislature  from  altering 
or  repealing  it  at  any  time  hereafter. 

The  term  incorporators  as  used  above  embraces  such  per- 
sons as  appeared  by  name  in  the  act  of  incorporation,  and 
they  do  not  differ  otherwise  from  the  proprietors.  The  fol- 
lowing is  a  complete  list  of  the  first  owners  of  the  institu- 
tion, showing  their  respective  interests  or  number  of  shares. 
It  is  noticed  that  the  certificates  were  not  cashed  till  a  year 
or  two  after  the  school  had  its  birth.  All  the  certificates 
are  dated  Oct.  20,  1829,  except  the  last  three  which  are 
dated  Sept.  7,  1830. 

1.  William  Munday,  No.       i  to  5. 

2.  Billy  Emerson,  No.    6  to  10. 

3.  Samuel  Rea,  Portsmouth,  N. 

H.  (filled  out  and  signed  but 
not  cut  from  stock  book)        No.  n  to  15. 
•     4.  Moses  Wildes,  No.  16  to  20. 

5.  Jacob  Towne,  Jr.,  No.  21  to  25. 

6.  Frederick  J.  Merriam,  as  Rea's 

(No.  3)  but  indorsed  :  Trans- 
ferred to  Benj.  Adams  on 
March  29,  1830,  for  $15.00. 
Marked  "cancelled,"  No.  26  to  30. 

7.  Nehemiah  Cleaveland,  No.  31  to  35. 

8.  Samuel  Gould,  No.  36  to  40. 

9.  Royal  Augustus  Merriam,         No.  41  to  45. 
10.  Solomon  Wildes,  Boston,  No.  46  to  50. 


REV.    MOSES    PARSONS   STICKNEY. 


THE   SHARE    HOLDERS.  13 

11.  Gilbert  Brownell,  Boston,  No.  51  to  55. 

12.  Thomas  Emerson,  No.  56  to  60. 

13.  John  Dwinell,  No.  61  to  65. 

14.  Est.  of  Col.  Ephraim  Wildes,  No.  66  to  70. 

15.  Joel  Lake,  No.  71. 

16.  Moses  Wright,  No.  72. 

17.  John  Lamson,  No.  73  &  74. 

1 8.  Wm.  N.  Cleaveland,  trans- 

ferred   Sept.    4,  1830,  to 

Rev.  James  F.  McEwen,          No.  75,  76,  \  of  79. 

19.  Cornelius  B.  Bradstreet,  No.  77,  78,  \  of  79. 

20.  Samuel    Hood,    certificate 

cut  out  and  gummed  in 
again,  and  transferred  to 
Rev.  James  F.  McEwen, 

Sept.  4,  1830,  for  $5.00,  No.  80,  81,  \  of  84, 

21.  Edward  Hood,  No.  82,  J  of  84. 

22.  Rev.  Rodney  G.  Dennis,  No.  83,  }  of  84. 

23.  Nathaniel  Perley,  No.  85,  J  of  89. 

24.  Frederick  Perley,  No.  86,  J  of  89. 

25.  John  Sawyer,  No.  87,  }  of  89. 

26.  Benj.  C.  Perkins,  No.  88,  \  of  89. 

27.  Isaac  Killam,  No.  90,  91,  }  of  92. 

28.  Jeremiah  Stone,  No.  93,  94,  }  of  92. 

29.  Samuel  Bradstreet,  No.  95  to  99. 

30.  John  Wright,  No.  100. 
Benjamin  Adams  transferred  shares  No.  26  to  30  to  Still- 
man  Stone,  under  date  April  3,  1830,  for   $25.     They   are 
marked  "cancelled". 

Wm.  N.  Cleaveland  transferred  shares  No.  75,  76,  \  of  79, 
under  date  Sept.  4,  1830,  to  Rev.  James  F.  McEwen. 

The  stock-book  shows  twelve  certificates  signed  in  blank 
by  N.  Cleaveland,  President. 

Jacob  Towne,  Jr.,  called  the  first  meeting,  of  the  proprie- 
tors and  was  treasurer  till  1832,  when  Dr.  Royal  A.  Merriam 
was  chosen.  Dr.  Jeremiah  Stone  was  the  first  secretary  and 
Rev.  James  F.  McEwen  succeeded  him.  Nehemiah  Cleveland, 
Royal  Augustus  Merriam,  Jeremiah  Stone,  Samuel  Gould, 
Solomon  Wildes,  John  Lamson,  John  Rea,  William  Munday 
and  William  N.  Cleaveland  were  the  first  standing  committee. 


14  THE  TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

The  institution  was  dedicated  May  7,  1828,  Rev.  Rodney 
G.  Dennis,  pastor  of  the  local  church,  delivering  the  ad- 
dress, which  was  printed.  That  was  also  the  first  day  of  the 
term.  Mr.  Dennis'  address  was  well  written,  well  delivered, 
and  well  received.  The  standing  committee  requested  the 
manuscript  for  publication.  It  was  published  by  subscrip- 
tion in  a  pamphlet  of  sixteen  pages.  Sylvester  Cummings 
took  twenty  copies ;  N.  Cleaveland,  Billy  Emerson,  Francis 
Vose,  Jeremiah  Stone,  Samuel  Gould,  ten  each ;  Israel  Rea, 
Jr.,  and  Susan  Cummings,  six  each ;  Joel  Lake,  William 
Munday,  William  Gunnison,  Benjamin  C.  Perkins,  Hannah  P. 
Bradstreet,  Samuel  Hood,  Jacob  Towne,  Jr.,  five  each ;  W. 
N.  Cleaveland,  Benjamin  Kimball,  four  each;  David  Lake, 
W.  Conant,  Thomas  Balch,  Cornelius  B.  Bradstreet,  Na- 
thaniel Perley,  Moses  Wright,  Aaron  Conant,  John  Wright, 
Lydia  B.  Emerson,  Joseph  Batchelder,  Isaac  Killam,  W.  R. 
Hubbard,  Josiah  Peabody,  three  each ;  eighteen  others,  two 
each ;  nineteen  others,  one  each.  The  list  of  sixty-seven 
names  probably  shows,  other  things  being  equal,  the  enthu- 
siasm with  which  the  new  institution  was  received. 

The  occasion  was  a  red-letter  day  in  the  town's  history.  Mr. 
Dennis  had  spoken  the  right  word ;  the  school  opened  pros- 
perously ;  the  teachers  were  professionals ;  and  the  proprie- 
tors were  in  earnest  and  sanguine  of  success. 

One  of  Mr.  Dennis'  opening  sentences  reads  as  follows: 
"Your  attention  is,  therefore,  solicited,  while  the  attempt  is 
made  to  offer  some  remarks,  on  the  importance  of  connecting 
piety  with  knowledge.  By  piety  will  be  understood  a  devout 
disposition  of  heart,  accompanied  by  a  course  of  life  in  cor- 
respondance  with  the  divine  commands,  and  by  knowledge, 
the  improvement  of  the  mind." 

Near  the  close  he  said :  "This  morning  forms  a  new  epoch 
in  the  annals  of  literature,  and  may  we  not  say  of  piety,  in 
this  place.  An  Academy,  in  Topsfield,  had,  for  many  years 
past  been  a  subject  of  conversation;  many  sanguine  wishes 
had  been  expressed  that  there  might  be  one,  but  never  till 
now  has  one  been  opened.  May  we  not  hail  its  commence- 
ment, as  a  new  occasion  to  the  cause  of  learning,  especially 
in  this  place?  And  may  we  not  cherish  the  hope,  too,  that 
it  will  afford  a  fostering  hand  to  that  piety  which  as  far  ex- 


THE   OPENING   ADDRESS.  15 

eels  mere  human  knowledge,  as  the  unwithering  glories  of 
Heaven  excel  the  fading,  perishing  treasures  of  this  life? 
We  congratulate  its  patrons  on  its  establishment.  The  de- 
sign does  credit  to  your  wisdom  and  public  spirit,  and  the 
accomplishment  of  it  to  your  decision.  The  building  which 
you  have  erected  is  commodious  and  neatly  finished.  It 
does  honor  to  the  superintendent  and  to  the  architect.  The 
spot  on  which  it  is  located  combines  many  excellences. 
You  have  been  no  less  judicious  and  successful  in  choosing 
for  instructors  those  in  whom  the  public  can  put  confidence, 
both  as  to  their  literary  qualifications  and  their  uprightness 
of  moral  character.  May  we  not  say,  then,  that  this  literary 
seminary  has  been  opened  under  auspicious  circumstances? 
Sustained  by  that  wisdom,  and  public  spirit  and  decision 
which  planned  and  created  it;  and  in  the  care  of  so  able  in- 
structors ;  and  in  the  near  vicinity  of  so  many  populous 
towns ;  being  easy,  too,  of  access ;  and  combining  the  ad- 
vantages of  salubrity  of  climate  and  beauty  of  surrounding 
scenery,  can  we  suppress  the  hope  that  it  will  flourish? 
May  the  blessing  of  Almighty  God  rest  upon  it." 


CHAPTER   II. 

THE   EARLY   INSTRUCTORS,    FRANCIS   VOSE,    EDWARD    D. 

SANBORN,    MOSES     P.     STICKNEY,  ASA   FOWLER,   ALFRED 

W.    PIKE,   AND    MISS   ANNA    SEARLE. 


The  first  instructors  were  Francis  Vose,  A.  M.,  principal, 
and  Miss  Matilda  Leavitt,  preceptress.  An  advertisement  of 
the  school  informs  us,  that  she  was  "a  lady  highly  qualified 
for  the  situation — the  care  of  the  ladies'  department."  Mrs. 
J.  R.  Towne,  of  Evanston,  111.,  wrote,  that  Miss  Ann  Cofran 
was  Miss  Leavitt's  successor,  and  left,  she  thought,  when 
Mr.  Vose  resigned.  She  says,  "I  was  a  student  at  the  open- 
ing of  the  Academy,  and  also  during  the  Autumn  of  1835, 
under  Mr.  Pike,  who  left  soon  after  that  term."  The  adver- 
tisement continues,  that  the  principal  had  "been  for  several 
years  past,  engaged  in  the  business  of  instruction",  and  had 
"fully  established  the  character  of  an  able,  faithful  and  suc- 
cessful teacher." 

Besides  this  recommendation,  Prof.  Vose  had  a  reputation 
of  his  own.  He  had  been,  in  some  way,  associated  with  his 
uncle  Prof.  John  Vose,  at  Atkinson,  N.  H.,  the  most  distin- 
guished teacher,  says  Dr.  Geo.  Cogswell,  that  Academy  ever 
had.  He  married  his  cousin,  one  of  Prof.  John  Vose's 
daughters,  and  thus  became  more  vitally  connected  with  the 
good  name  and  work  of  his  uncle.  These  things  joined  with 
his  good  ability  and  aptness  to  teach,  creeping  out  quietly 
and  widely  into  literary  circles,  made  Prof.  Francis  Vose  a 
very  promising  man,  as  governor  and  instructor  of  the  new 
Academy. 

The  course  of  study,  as  in  all  academies,  was  arranged  for 
mental  discipline,  moral  culture,  and  practical  life.  The  ex- 
ercises of  the  commencement,  Aug.  10,  1830,  consisting  of 
music,  declamations,  compositions  and  discussions,  show  that 
the  Academy  enjoyed  a  high  degree  of  prosperity.  There 

(16) 


FRANCIS   VOSE.  I? 

were  twenty-one  compositions,  thirty-one  declamations  and 
an  original  hymn.  These  are  some  of  the  subjects  treated, 
and  the  names  of  some  of  the  writers  and  speakers :  "Men 
may  live  fools,  but  fools  they  cannot  die"  ;  "Is  public  opinion 
a  just  criterion  of  moral  character"  ;  "The  only  amaranthine 
flower  on  earth  is  virtue"  ;  "The  world  is  infectious,  few  bring 
back  at  eve,  immaculate,  the  manners  of  the  morn".  Miss  Har- 
riet Josephine  Emerson  told  of  "The  Aborigines  of  America," 
and  John  G.  Hood  gave  "Some  reasons,  why  the  custom  of 
wearing  mourning  apparel  should  be  discontinued".  T.  P. 
Munday  declaimed  of  "Africa's  future  Glory"  ;  George  F. 
Choate,  of  "Mount  Sinai"  ;  J.  G.  Hood,  of  the  "Cause  of  Mis- 
sions" ;  and  C.  Cummings,  of  "The  Grave".  "The  effect  of 
Juvenile  Libraries",  was  told  by  Moses  K.  Cross  ;  "The  import- 
ance of  reading  history",  by  A.  F.  Richards  ;  "Love  of  Fame", 
by  W.  A.  Peabody ;  "Lectures,  a  mode  of  instruction",  by  J. 
Peabody.  There  were  discussions :  "Does  the  King  or  peas- 
ant enjoy  most  happiness",  by  C.  H.  Roades  and  A.  Gould ; 
"Does  the  fear  of  law,  or  the  loss  of  reputation,  deter  most  from 
crime",  by  D.  C.  Gallup  and  E.  Towne.  There  were  these  dec- 
lamations :  "Extirpation  of  the  Indians",  by  M.  K.  Cross; 
"Talents",  by  E.  Batchelder  ;  "Influence  of  the  higher  classes  of 
society",  by  P.  Lovett ;  "Love  of  Country",  by  W.  H.  Lackey  ; 
"Slothfulness  reproved",  by  C.  Treadwell.;  an  extract  by  G. 
F.  Eveleth;  "Solace  of  Hope",  by  M.  B.  Wildes ;  "Influence 
of  Charity",  by  F.  Cox;  "Encouragements  to  Benevolence", 
by  H.  F.  Putnam  ;  "Nations  of  New  England,"  by  C  Page ; 
"Intrepidity  of  our  Ancestors",  by  J.  B.  Eveleth ;  "Pilgrim 
Fathers",  by  A.  Bradstreet ;  "Tomorrow",  by  J.  Rea ;  "The 
Prize",  by  F.  M.  Lord;  "The  Cause  of  propagating  the  Gos- 
pel should  stand  on  its  own  claims",  by  A.  Gould  ;  "Charac- 
ter of  the  Philanthropist,"  by  A.  T.  Richards;  "Right  of  suf- 
frage", by  S.  W.  Bradstreet;  "The  instability  of  earthly 
greatness",  by  R.  West;  "Protection  of  the  defenceless,"  by 
C.  H.  Rhoades;  "Resistance  of  the  Colonies  encouraged", 
byJ.D.  Black;  "Tears  of  Science",  by  M.  Wildes;  "Obli- 
gation of  Americans",  by  W.  A.  Peabody ;  "Intemperance", 
by  J.  Peabody;  "Avarice  in  Government",  by  E.  Towne; 
"Claims  of  the  Colonization  Society",  by  D.  P.  Gallup. 

Besides    these    there  were  Latin  and  Greek    declamations, 


I  8  THE  TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

and  an  original  hymn  by  Miss  Harriet  Josephine  Emerson, 
which  Rev.  M.  K.  Cross  says  was  very  fine,  far  beyond  her 
years.  D.  Peabody,  also,  gave  "a  short,  pertinent  and  elo- 
quent address." 

At  the  commencement,  of  Aug.  9,  1831,  there  were  fifty 
assignments  :  vocal  music,  nineteen  compositions,  an  original 
poem  by  George  Hood,  two  discussions,  and  twenty- six  dec- 
lamations— one  Greek,  one  Latin,  and  two  original. 

Prof.  Vose  was  a  severe  disciplinarian.  He  believed  in  the 
letter  of  the  law.  Dr.  Cogswell,  when  eighty-two  years  of 
age  [1890]  related  an  instance  in  point.  It  was  at  Atkinson 
Academy,  at  the  time  the  Doctor's  youngest  brother  fitted 
for  college,  about  1820,  or  perhaps  a  little  later.  Four  young 
men  having  completed  their  preparatory  course  for  college 
desired  of  Master  Vose  the  usual  recommendation  to  Dart- 
mouth College.  But  the  evening  before  leaving,  in  violation 
of  the  school  rules,  they  walked  out  with  some  of  their  female 
companions  and  school-mates,  and  the  recommendations  were 
withheld. 

"What  dire  offense  from  friendly  causes  springs! 
What  mighty  contests  rise  from  trivial  things!" 

What  lady  indulging  in  reminiscence  of  academic  life  will 
not  pronounce  the  punishment  extremely  severe,  and  what 
gentleman  will  not  wonder  what  in  contrast  would  be  the 
condign  punishment  of  the  pretty  features,  grace  of  manners, 
and  cultured  intellect  that  Eve- like  proffered  the  forbidden 
fruit !  Sic  volvere  parcas. 

It  was,  however,  Prof.  Vose's  business  to  rear  a  careful 
man,  an  exact  man,  a  just  man,  a  liberty-loving  and  law- 
abiding  citizen,  as  well  as  a  thinking  man  in  scholastic  walks. 
Rev.  Benjamin  Howe,  late  of  the  Linebrook  Church,  who  was 
a  student  a  year  under  Prof.  Vose,  esteemed  him  highly  and 
spoke  of  him  as  a  dignified  Christian  gentleman,  a  pleasant 
and  thorough  instructor,  a  ripe  scholar. 

The  Academy  at  once  became  a  literary  center,  and  Prof. 
Vose  stood  among  the  best  educators  in  the  county.  It  was 
at  this  academy,  and  during  Mr.  Vose's  principalship,  Dec.  4 
and  5,  1830,  that  the  Essex  County  Teacher's  Association  had 
its  birth.  Mr.  Vose  was  the  first  recording  secretary  and 
continued  in  that  orifice  several  years.  There  had  been  a  pre- 


FRANCIS    VOSE.  19 

liminary  meeting,  presumably  here  in  the  June  preceding. 
At  this  meeting  in  December  a  full  board  of  officers  was  cho- 
sen and  a  constitution  adopted.  The  annual  and  semi-annual 
meetings,  by  a  provision  of  the  constitution,  were  to  be  held 
here.  The  association  was  incorporated  April  19,  1837,  and 
the  names  appearing  in  the  act  of  incorporation  are  N.  Cleave- 
land  of  Byfield  Academy  (Dr.  N.  Cleaveland,  of  Topsfield, 
died  Feb.  26,  1837),  Benjamin  Greenleaf,  the  mathematician, 
late  principal  of  Bradford  Academy,  and  George  Titcomb, 
"Master  Titcomb,"  as  he  was  familiarly  called,  in  Newbury- 
port,  where  he  first  taught  a  private  school  and  then  the 
"Brown  High  School."  The  corporation  could  hold  real  and 
personal  property  to  the  value  of  $20,000.  The  association 
still  lives,  and  as  it  has  done  in  the  past,  so  it  is  now  doing, 
a  good  work.  Mr.  Jefferson  Kimball  Cole,  now  many  years 
a  teacher  in  Peabody,  was  several  years  its  secretary. 

At  the  same  time  the  Academy  was  made  a  Publishers' 
Repository  of  New  Books.  In  this  it  acquired  a  merited  dis- 
tinction. Here  centered  the  learning  of  Eastern  Essex  Coun- 
ty. About  this  pole  revolved  the  interest  of  the  reviewer,  the 
critic,  the  litterateur.  It  was  a  thoughtful  and  apt  use  of  the 
institution.  Our  nation  then  had  no  literature  worthy  the 
name,  when  compared  with  the  world  of  letters.  Nor  is  the 
fact  startling !  Colonial  and  provincial  labors  were  works  of 
necessity;  there  had  been  no  time  for  anything  else.  But 
this,  the  period  of  which  we  write,  permanently  free  from 
martial  strife,  was  opportune  for  civic  expansion.  The  na- 
tional lyceums  movement  of  1829  indicated  the  popular  sen- 
timent in  regard  to  literature.  This  repository  was  to  supple- 
ment the  labors  of  authors,  by  conning  and  pruning,  by  sug- 
gestion and  commendation,  thus  enlarging  the  sphere,  the 
influence  and  the  value  of  their  productions.  The  Academy 
was  certainly  in  honor. 

Prof.  Vose  was  taxed  in  Topsfield,  1829-30-31.  A  record 
places  him  in  Topsfield  as  late  as  the  first  of  December,  1831. 
He  called  a  meeting  of  the  Essex  County  Teachers'  Associa- 
tion over  the  date:  "Haverhill,  Nov.  10,  1832."  The  pro- 
grammes of  the  commencements  1830  and  183 1  are  beyond  a 
doubt  his.  But  Superintendent  of  Schools  Albert  L.  Bart- 
lett,  of  Haverhill,  wrote,  "Francis  Vose  was  the  Preceptor  of 


20  THE  TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

Haverhill  Academy  in  1831."  Probably  he  taught  a  term  in 
the  fall  of  1831.  This  is  the  nearest  approach  to  the  exact 
date  of  his  resignation. 

Francis  Vose  was  son  of  Francis*  and  Phebe  (Clement) 
Vose,  and  was  born  in  Francestown,  N.  H.,  Oct.  31,1 788.  He 
graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  in  1817,  and  took  his  Mas- 
ter's degree  in  course.  He  taught,  says  an  apparent  author- 
ity, in  Francestown,  Atkinson,  and  Hampton,  N.  Hi ;  in  Col- 
chester and  Bloomfield,  Ct. ;  and  in  Haverhill,  Topsfield,  and 
Newburyport,  Mass. 

His  son  George  T.  Vose,  of  Alexandria,  N.  H.,  writes:— 
"My  father  was  a  professional  teacher  for  more  than  twenty 
years.  His  health  failing,  he  bought  and  cultivated,  during 
his  later  years,  a  farm  in  Pembroke,  N.  H.  He  was  elected  a 
trustee  of  the  Pembroke  Academy  very  soon  after  locating 
there,  and  was  placed  on  the  executive  committee,  where  he  re- 
mained, until  his  death,  by  a  throat  difficulty,  Aug.  13,  1851. 

"He  was  twice  married,  first  in  Pembroke,  N.  H.,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Quincy  Vose,  ['a  more  than  ordinary  woman',  said 
Dr.  George  Cogswell],  daughter  of  John  Vose,  Esq.,  who  as 
author  of  an  astronomy,  was  titled  'Hon'.  She  died  of  con- 
sumption, in  Hampton,  N.  H.  By  that  wife  he  had  only  one 
child  John  Francis,  who  died  young  in  May,  1831,  in  Hamp- 
ton N.  H.,  where  he  was  born. 

"He  married,  second,  Jan.  24,  1830,  Mary  Ann  Brackett, 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mar}'  Pickering  Brackett,  of  Green- 
land, N.  H.  She  was  born  Sept.  4,  1800.  Her  last  years 
were  spent  in  the  family  of  her  son  in  Alexandria,  N  H. 
For  eight  years  next  previous  to  her  death,  she  was  con- 
fined to  her  home  by  paralysis.  A  letter  received  from  her 
only  a  short  time  before  her  death,  shows  cultured  thought, 

*Francis  Vose,  Senior,  was  son  of  Samuel  and  Phebe  (Vickery)  Vose, 
of  Bedford,  N.  H.,  who  was  son  of  Robert  and  Abigail  (Sumner)  Vose, 
who  was  son  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Babcock)  Vose,  who  was  son  of 
Capt.  Thomas  and  Wait-still  (Wyatt)  Vose,  who  was  son  of  Robert  (born 
1 599)  and  his  wife  Jane.  Samuel  Vose's  family  was  said  to  be  scholarly. 
Col.  Elijah  Vose  once  said:  "Cousin,  always  maintain  the  dignity  of  the 
name  of  Vose,"  and  thus  embodied  his  idea  of  the  family  respectability. 
Old  Col.  Fabor  once  said  that  he  had  so  profound  a  regard  for  Prof. 
John  Vose,  that  he  always  felt,  when  he  heard  the  name  of  Vose,  like 
taking  off  his  hat. — Peter  E.  Vose. 


HON.    ASA    FOWLER. 


EDWIN    DAVID    SANBORN.  21 

and  a  chirography  seldom  excelled  by  modern  schools. 
She  died  at'the  home  of  her  son,  Sept.  22,  1890,  leaving  two 
sons,  George  Thomas  and  John  Francis,  her  only  children. 
She  was  buried  in  the  family  lot  in  Pembroke,  N.  H." 

The  dutiful  son  continues:  "My  great  grandfather  was 
George  Brackett,  Esq.,  of  Greenland,  N.  H.  (born  1737,  died 
1825)  who  married  Dec.  18,  1764,  Ann  March,  daughter  of 
Dr.  Clement  March,  of  Greenland,  who,  it  is  understood,  was 
sometime  consul  at  Madeira,  and  afterwards  travelled  in  the 
Orient,  and  died  at  the  residence  of  the  American  consul  at 
Alexandria,  Egypt;  and  whose  nephevv,  Charles  W.  March, 
was  a  writer  of  repute  and  private  secretary  to  Daniel 
Webster,  when  the  latter  was  Secretary  of  State.  George 
Brackett  left  a  fund  of  $5,000  to  the  Congregational  church 
in  Greenland,  N.  H.  $2,600  to  the  Hampton  Academy,  and 
$2,000,  to  aid  in  founding  Greenland  Academy,  which  bears 
his  name.  George's  brother,  'Old  Dr.  Brackett'  of  Portsmouth 
was  celebrated  for  his  medical  knowledge  and  skill.  My 
great  uncle  Joshua  Brackett  was  a  Harvard  graduate,  and  a 
doctor  of  repute." 

Mr.  Vose's  labors  are  still  cherished  in  Topsfield.  His 
character  left  its  impress  upon  citizen  as  well  as  scholar. 
He  was  helpful  in  civic  life  and  in  church  as  well  as  in  school 
and  among  men  of  letters.  He  called  his  school  together 
Sunday  morning,  for  religious  instruction;  he  instituted  in 
the  church  a  Sunday  school.  He  was  an  able,  energetic,  all- 
round  man  ;  his  school  was  a  gem  that  attracted  by  its  bril- 
liancy and  worth. 

EDWIN    DAVID    SANBORN. 

Mr.  Sanborn  was  Mr.  Vose's  successor.  His  son  Edwin 
W.  Sanborn  thinks  his  father  "taught  at  Topsfield  during  the 
winter  of  1831-2,  and  possibly  nearly  all  that  school  year, 
since  he  taught  nine  months  of  his  senior  year  at  college". 
The  New  Hampshire  Press  Association  Annual,  1884-8,  says 
Prof.  Sanborn  taught,  during  his  college  course,  1828-32,  in 
Brentwood,  N.  H.,  twice  in  Concord,  and  in  the  academies  of 
Derry,  N.  H.,  and  Topsfield,  Mass.,  "continuing  in  the  latter 
place  a  year  after  his  graduation."  Albeit  the  spring  and 


22  THE   TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

fall  terms  of  1832  of  this  academy  opened  May  2,  and  Sep- 
tember 5,  with  Mr.  Sanborn  as  principal. 

The  term  beginning  in  May  agreed  in  time  with  his  last 
term  of  his  four  years'  course  at  Dartmouth  College,  and 
while  he  was  passing  his  examination  there.  Moses  Parsons 
Stickney*  officiated  in  the  academy — "a  brief  interval", 
wrote  Mr.  Stickney,  "of  four  or  five  weeks  at  longest." 

James  F.  McEwen,  secretary  of  the  proprietors,  in  an- 
nouncing the  Academy's  opening,  spoke  of  Mr.  Sanborn  as  "a 
gentleman  highly  recommended  for  classical  attainments 
and  talents  as  a  teacher" — a  recommendation  fully  sustained 
by  him  in  his  long  literary  career. 

In  1835,  his  Alma  Mater  elected  him  tutor  for  one  year. 
He  was  elected  to  the  professorship  of  the  Latin  and  the 
Greek  languages  in  the  same  year,  and  was  professor  of  the 
Latin  language  and  literature  from  1837  to  l%59-  He  resigned 
and  accepted  his  election  to  the  chair  of  classical  literature 
and  history  in  Washington  University,  which  he  occupied 
from  1859  to  1863.  The  latter  year  he  was  again  elected  by 
his  Alma  Mater — this  time  professor  of  Oratory  and  Belles- 
lettres.  He  was  librarian  to  the  college  from  1866  to  1874. 
He  became  professor  of  Anglo-Saxon  and  English  language 
and  literature,  1880.  He  received  his  master's  degree  in 
course;  the  University  of  Vermont  added  LL.  D.,  1859,  and 
Dartmouth  the  same,  1879.  Mr.  Sanborn  was  born  May  14, 
1808,  and  died  Dec.  29,  1885.  Miss  Kate  Sanborn,  author- 

*Mr.  Stickney,  as  a  Congregational  clergyman,  settled  in  Eastport, 
Me.  Afterwards  he  changed  his  views  and  was  ordained  in  the  Epis- 
copal church,  by  Rt.  Rev.  Alexander  V.  Griswold,  Feb.  25,  1841.  He 
passed  from  deacon  to  priesthood,  and  as  such  became  rector  of  St. 
Michael's  church  in  Marblehead  in  1842;  then  of  St.  Peter's  in  Cam- 
bridgeport  in  1847;  then  of  Burlington  College,  N.  J.;  then  assistant 
minister  in  the  church  of  the  Advent,  in  Boston,  in  1853,  which  he  re- 
signed iii  1870.  Thereafter  he  spent  his  winters  in  Boston  and  his 
summers  in  the  rural  quiet  of  his  home  in  Royalton,  Vt.  He  was  born 
in  Byfield,  Mass.,  July  12,  1807,  to  Lt.  Moses  and  Lois  (Pike)  Stickney, 
and  died  Aug.  19,  1894.  His  children  were  Anna  Elizabeth  Gray,  born 
Aug.  12,  1843;  William  Brunswick  Curry,  born  Jan.  16,  1845;  Henry 
Stover,  born  March  25,  1849;  Agnes  Mary  Palmer,  born  Oct.  5,  1851; 
and  Cornelia  Loring,  born  Aug.  14,  1861.  Of  these  children  only  two 
are  living,  William  a  lawyer  in  Bethel  and  Cornelia  a  music  teacher  in 
Royalton,  Vermont. 


ASA    FOWLER.  23 

ess,  New  York,  is  his  daughter,  and  he  has  two  sons,  lawyers 
in  New  York  and  Boston. 

ASA    FOWLER. 

Asa  Fowler,  A,  B.,  succeeded  Mr.  Sanborn.  He  opened 
the  fall  term  of  1833,  Wednesday,  September  4th.  He  had 
just  taken  his  diploma  at  Dartmouth.  Dr.  Nathan  Lord,  Pres- 
ident of  the  college,  thus  recommended  him :  "Mr.  Fowler 
stands  in  the  foremost  rank  of  scholars,  is  a  man  of  very  un- 
exceptionable morality  and  of  great  industry  and  fidelity." 
He  was  principal  here  a  single  term. 

Mr.  Fowler  was  the  ninth  child  in  a  family  of  eleven,  and 
was  born  in  Pembroke,  N.  H.,  Feb.  23,  1811.  He  married 
July  13,  1837,  Mary  Dole  Cilley  Knox  of  Epsom,  who  died 
Oct.  n,  1882.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  was  stricken  with 
typhoid  fever.  Afterwards  he  attended  Blanchard  Academy, 
then  in  charge  of  Hon.  John  Vose,  where  he  fitted  for  a  teach- 
er in  the  common  schools.  He  worked  alternately  on  the 
farm  and  in  school.  He  studied  Latin  sixty  weeks,  and 
entered  the  sophomore  class  in  Dartmouth  College,  where 
he  graduated,  in  1833,  in  the  first  third  of  his  class.  He  was 
never  absent  from,  nor  unprepared  at,  any  recitation  during 
his  3  years'  course.  After  teaching  here,  he  studied  law  with 
James  Sullivan,  Pernbroke,  through  the  winter,  and  in  March, 
1834,  entered  the  law-office  of  Hon.  Charles  H.  Peaselee, 
Concord,  as  student.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1837  ; 
was  elected  clerk  of  the  N.  H.  Senate  in  1835,  and  had  six 
successive  elections ;  was  U.  S.  commissioner  of  the  district 
of  N.  H.,  from  1846;  was  member  of  the  N.  H.  House  of 
Representatives  1845-7-8,  and  chairman  of  the  judiciary  com- 
mittee ;  was  an  independent  Democratic  nominee  for  governor 
in  1855  ;  was  associate  justice  of  Supreme  Court  from  Aug.  I, 
1855  to  Feb.  i,  1861,  when  he  resigned;  was  delegate  to  the 
famous  Peace  Congress,  at  Washington,  1861  ;  was  law- 
partner  of  President  Pierce  from  Sept.,  1838,  to  April,  1845, 
and  later  of  Wm.  E.  Chandler.  He  has  drafted  more  bills 
for  the  legislature  than  any  other  man  living  or  dead.  In 
Oct.,  1888,  his  children,  William  P.,  of  Boston,  and  Clara  M. 
Fowler  presented  to  the  city  of  Concord,  N.  H.,  a  public  li- 
brary building  as  a  memorial  of  their  parent.  The  total  cost 
of  the  gift  was  $25,000. 


24  THE   TOPSFIELD     ACADEMY. 

ALFRED    WASHINGTON    PIKE. 

Alfred  W.  Pike  succeeded  to  the  principalship  Dec.  3, 
1834.  The  public  announcements  of  this  school  had  hitherto 
been  made  over  the  signature  of  the  proprietors'  secretary ; 
but  now  over  the  signature  of  Mr.  Pike,  as  if  he  had  hired 
the  property  of  the  proprietors,  and  purposed  to  make  the 
school  completely  his  own.  He  removed  his  family  into  town 
in  November,  1834,  from  Boston,  where  he  had  been  keep- 
ing a  private  school.  He  was  taxed  here  in  1835. 

Prof.  Pike  was  a  farmer's  son,  born  in  Rowley,  March  21, 
1791,  to  Joseph  and  Lois  (Tenney)  Pike.  He  graduated  at 
Dartmouth  in  1815,  and  adopted  the  teacher's  profession. 
He  taught  classical  schools  and  fitted  young  men  for  college, 
in  Newburyport,  Framingham,  Woburn,  Rowley,  Boston,  and 
brought  to  this  school  a  ripe  experience  of  more  than  twenty 
years.  Under  his  tuition  the  school  might  have  flourished 
long,  but  for  a  libel  suit  versus  Beals  and  Green  of  the 
Boston  Post.  The  Standing  Committee  of  the  proprietors — 
N.  Cleaveland,  Jacob  Towne,  Moses  Wildes,  R.  A.  Merriam, 
James  F.  McEwen,  Nathaniel  Perley,  Jeremiah  Stone — did  all 
in  their  power  to  save  the  man  and  sustain  the  good  name  of 
the  Academy,  but  merely  nominal  damages  were  not  enough 
to  disabuse  the  public  mind,  and  Mr.  Pike  left  shortly  after 
the  fall  term  of  1835.  He  died  in  Boston  Sept.  6,  1860,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-nine  years. — See  further,  Geo.  T.  Chapman's 
Alumni  of  Dartmouth  College. 

MISS    ANNA    SEARLE. 

Miss  Searle  taught  sometime  between  the  principalships 
of  Professors  Pike  and  Greenleaf.  She  had  taught  a  private 
school  in  Georgetown,  D.  C.,  for  eighteen  or  twenty  years, 
and  brought  to  the  Academy  a  ripe  experience,  eminent 
qualifications,  and  a  noble  Christian  character  and  influence. 
She  taught  a  full  term,  and  no  longer.  She  had  "about  fif- 
teen pupils,"  says  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Jenness,  of  Beverly,  "of 
whom  I  was  one.  Mrs.  Esther  W,  Hutchings,  of  Topsfield 
was  another.  Miss  Searle  boarded  with  Mrs.  Susannah 
Cummings,  sister  of  Moses  Wildes,  whose  daughter  Susan 
Cummings  married  Rev.  Martin  Moore,  of  Charlestown, 


MISS    ANNA    SEARLE.  25 

Mass."  Mrs.  Jenness  continues:  "Miss  Searle  was  a  lady  of 
culture  and  intellectual  superiority,  and  a  conscientious  Chris- 
tian. Her  intellectual  and  moral  instruction  was  enduring. 
Her  ability  was  not  appreciated  by  the  people." 

Miss  Searle  taught,  it  is  understood,  in  Newburyport  early 
in  her  life.  Mr.  Isaac  Wheelwright,  a  native  of  Newbury- 
port, who  studied  for  the  ministry,  and  afterwards  was  an 
eminent  teacher  in  South  America  and  who  died  two  years 
ago,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-two  years,  attended  her 
school  there  and  thought  a  great  deal  of  her  as  a  teacher. 
Her  oldest  brother's  first  settlement  in  the  gospel  ministry,  it 
is  said,  was  in  Virginia,  and  probably  one  led  the  other  into 
that  section.  She  left  her  school  in  Georgetown,  to  visit  her 
father  in  his  old  age  and  sickness,  intending,  in  due  time,  to 
return  to  the  school ;  but  her  own  health  was  failing,  and, 
listening  to  the  expressed  wishes  of  her  relatives  and  friends, 
she  decided  to  make  the  home  of  her  youth  the  abode  of  her 
declining  years. 

During  this  period,  writes  Mr.  E.  P.  Searle,  of  Byfield, 
"Aunt  Ann  taught  in  the  old  Emerson  Seminary,  in  Byfield, 
one  or  two  years,  a  year  or  more  in  West  Newbury,  a  town 
school  near  the  Byfield  Depot,  and  a  winter  term  in  her 
home  district."  He  writes  further:  "She  was  a  lady  of  stir- 
ling  character,  of  strong  religious  faith,  pleasant  and  good  in 
all  her  ways."  Mrs.  Sarah  H.  Todd,  of  Rowley,  her  niece, 
writes:  "She  was  a  devoted  Christian,  and  a  lady  of  intelli- 
gence and  refinement.  She  taught  a  Sunday  school  of  col- 
ored children  in  Georgetown,  D.  C." 

Her  parental  home  was  the  Searle  corner,  near  the  site  of 
the  ancient  Tenney  grist-mill,  and  of  the  present  Dummer 
saw-mill,  in  Rowley-Byfield.  Her  parents  were  Joseph,  Jr., 
and  Molly  Searle.  She  had  a  sister  Ruthy,  born  March,  23, 
1784;  and  brothers:  Thomas  Colman,  born  Jan.  15,  1787; 
Joseph,  3d,  born  Dec.  2,  1789;  Caleb,  born  May  21,  1792; 
and  Moses  C[olman],  who  was  supplying  the  Byfield  pulpit 
when  he  died.  Thomas  went  to  Madison,  Ind.,  a  six  weeks 
journey  at  that  time,  and  was  settled  three  years  over  the 
first  church  gathered  there,  and  died  there  leaving  a  wife  and 
two  children,  who  have  now  passed  away.  Mr.  E.  P.  Searle 
never  heard  of  his  abode  or  labors  in  Virginia.  Joseph 


26  THE  TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

preached  in  North  Bridgton  and  Saccarappa,  Me.,  in  one  of 
which  places  he  died  leaving  one  son  now  living  in  Niles, 
Mich.  Caleb  was  a  butcher  whom  the  old  people  now  re- 
member as  a  marketman  from  Byfield  to  Salem  twice  a  week. 
Anna  was  born  Nov.  I,  1783.  Where  she  was  educated  is 
not  known.  Her  Christian  methods  in  school  suggest  a 
training  in  the  old  Emerson  Female  Seminary  in  Byfield ; 
but  Rev.  Joseph  Emerson,  buying  the  church  edifice  and 
remodeling  it,  opened  his  school  in  1818,  about  the  time 
Miss  Searle  began  her  labors  at  the  national  capital.  She 
never  married.  Fourteen  days  before  her  death,  she  had  a 
shock  of  palsy,  dying  June  n,  1841,  in  the  house  wherein 
she  was  born. 


CHAPTER   III. 

BENJAMIN    GREENLEAF    AND    HIS     SUCCESSORS, 

ASA    FARWELL,    WILLIAM    F.    KENT,    EDMUND     F.    SLAFTER, 

BURTON   O.    MARBLE,    DANIEL   O.    QUINBY,   JOSEPH 

H.    NOYES,    AND   KINSMAN    ATKINSON. 


The  last  record  that  we  find  of  the  meeting  of  the  Essex 
County  Teachers'  Association  at  this  place,  is  dated  Dec.  I 
and  2,  1835.  The  Association's  meeting  in  1837  was  held 
Dec.  4  and  5,  in  the  Court  House  at  Ipswich.  An  advertise- 
ment dated  May  5,  1837,  reads:  ''Six  small  boys  or  girls 
may  receive  board,  tuition  and  parental  care  in  the  family  of 
the  subscriber,  James  F.  McEwen."  By  a  pamphlet  cata- 
logue, 1839-40,  Mr.  Greenleaf  taught  the  fall  term  and  Mr. 
Farwell  the  spring  and  summer  terms.  It  is  inferred  from 
these  records  that  the  Academy  may  have  been  discontinued 
two  or  three  years  from  the  time  when  Mr.  Pike  left. 

However  that  may  be,  the  proprietors  chose  an  attractive 
name  to  open  the  "Second  Summer  term  of  1839."  Richard 
Phillips,  as  the  proprietors'  secretary,  advertised  it  for  July 
24,  "under  the  care  of  Benjamin  Greenleaf,  Esq.,"  and  gave 
as  references:  Rev.  James  F.  McEwen,  Charles  H.  Holmes, 
Esq.,  Joseph  C.  Batchelder,  M.  D.  No  teacher  was  better 
known  in  the  county  or  enjoyed  a  better  reputation  as  a 
thorough,  practical,  and  successful  instructor.  Mr.  Greenleaf 
was  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College,  in  1813,  and  had  been 
twenty-two  years  principal  of  the  Bradford  Academy,  taking 
it  with  ten  students  and  leaving  it  with  one  hundred  fifty,  and 
an  enviable  national  reputation.  While  principal  here,  Mr. 
Greenleaf  accomplished  considerable  upon  that  series  of  arith- 
metics which  has  made  his  name  familiar  throughout  the 
land — especially  the  Common  School  Arithmetic,  which  has 
been  imitated  so  much,  but  neither  excelled  nor  even 
equalled. 

(27) 


28  THE   TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

Some  three  or  four  months  before  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred Oct.  29,  1864,  when  he  was  78  years  old,  the  writer 
visited  him.  He  was  genial  and  busy  as  ever.  A  large  rib- 
bon-box from  a  fancy  goods  store  contained  the  manuscript 
of  his  last  book — a  practical  surveying — nearly  completed. 
He  lived  in  his  loved  employ,  and  was  oblivious  to  all  else. 
He  had  arranged  a  new  multiplication  table:  "i  1-2  times 
I  1-2  are  21-4;  11-2  times  2  1-2  are  3  3-4;  I  1-2  times 
3  1-2  are  5  1-4,  etc.^'  This  he  repeated  with  as  much  ease 
as  an  ordinary  school-boy  would  say,  ''Twice  2  are  4;  twice 
3  are  6 ;  twice  4  are  8,  etc."  From  every  round  of  the 
mathematical  ladder  he  would  rehearse  definition  and  rule 
with  an  accuracy  and  rapidity  that  would  distance  and  sur- 
prise the  most  thorough  collegiate.  He  spoke  of  Dr.  Adams 
and  his  arithmetic,  of  Warren  Colburn  and  his  "Colburns"- 
of  Adams  with  great  respect  and  esteem,  of  Colburn  with 
admiration.  He  gave  his  visitor  two  photographs — one  of 
himself  and  one  of  Dr.  Adams — and  they  are  among  the 
writer's  choicest  souvenirs. 

The  winter  term  began  December  4th,  and  continued 
eighteen  weeks.  Joseph  E.  Bomer,  who  was  many  years  a 
skillful  physician  at  Ipswich,  was  a  pupil,  the  term  which 
began  April  I5th  and  closed  November  5th. 

Another  pupil,  Mr.  E.  R.  Perkins  of  Salem,  writes,  that 
Mr.  Greenleaf  taught  two  terms,  beginning  in  April  and  end- 
ing in  October,  1839,  and  adds:  "I  attended  his  first  term; 
the  school  numbered  sixty  scholars,  of  all  grades  and  ages, 
from  ten  years  to  twenty-five ;  his  nephew  Moses  P.  Green- 
leaf,  of  Haverhill,  assisted  in  the  lower  grades.  Mr.  Green- 
leaf  was  a  rather  nervous  man;  at  times  very  active ;  and 
his  clear,  ringing  voice  would  make  the  old  academy  ring 
when  a  boy  forgot  to  behave.  He  had  a  habit  of  smoothing 
down  a  boy's  face  heavily  with  his  palm,  if  the  boy  was 
caught  whispering.  He  always  opened  school  with  prayer 
and  used  the  same  one  continually,  full  half  the  time  scanning 
every  desk  with  his  keen  eyes.  He  used  his  own  arithmetic, 
and  boys  asking  assistance  he  delighted  to  put  off  with  a 
cunning  smile  on  his  face,  and  the  kindly  injunction:  'Puz- 
zle it  out.' ' 

Mrs.  Ellen  F.   (Kimball)   Morgan  writes  as  follows :   "By 


BENJAMIN     GREENLEAF. 


ASA     FARWELL.  2  9 

a  mere  chance,  I  found  among  some  old  papers  an  original 
catalogue  of  the  Academy,  issued  in  1840,  by  that  celebrated 
mathematician,  Benjamin  Greenleaf,  A.  M.,  who  was  princi- 
pal in  the  fall  term  of  that  year,  and  Asa  Farwell,  A.  B., 
principal  of  the  winter  and  summer  terms.  The  number  of 
students  was — gentlemen  58,  and  ladies  46.  One  of  the 
gentlemen  was  Geronimo  Sigaroly,  from  St.  Jago,  Cuba. 
Can  any  of  those  who  attended  school  at  the  time  give  any 
information  in  regard  to  the  Spanish  student,  who  drifted 
into  this  quiet  village  from  that  fair  island  of  the  tropics? 
In  comparing  the  old  catalogue  with  those  of  1857  and  '58, 
by  Profs.  Healy  and  Allis,  I  find  nearly  the  same  induce- 
ments, as  healthfulness  of  locality,  over-sight  of  students, 
and  other  minor  items,  but  the  course  of  study  surfers,  in 
comparison,  not  so  much  in  the  classical  department  as  in 
the  English.  We  never  found  a  more  puzzling,  yet  practi- 
cal arithmetic  than  Mr.  Greenleaf's.  His  algebra  was  used 
extensively  in  the  schools  at  a  later  date.  The  curriculum 
was  narrow  in  other  respects,  when  compared  with  the 
branches  taught  from  1855  to  1859." 

After  leaving  this  institution,  he  conducted  the  Bradford 
Teacher's  Seminary,  which  was  doubtless  suggested  by  the 
discussions  of  the  Essex  County  Teachers'  Association,  of 
which  he  was  one  of  the  founders. 

The  wisdom  of  the  proprietors  of  the  school  to  employ 
Mr.  Greenleaf  became  apparent.  He  established  its  old- 
time  reputation,  the  old  grounds  re-echoed  with  the  voices 
of  many  students,  and  the  halls  were  devoted  to  patient 
study.  It  became  an  attraction  alike  to  scholars  and  teach- 
ers of  character  and  ability. 

ASA    FARWELL. 

Mr.  Greenleaf  was  succeeded  by  Asa  Farwell,  A  .13.  J.  C. 
Batchelder,  Secretary,  March  7,  1840,  announced  the  next 
term  of  the  school  to  begin  April  15,  1840,  under  the  care 
of  "the  present  Principal,  Mr.  Asa  Farwell,  A.  B."  He  be- 
gan the  preceding  winter  term. 

Mr.  E.  R.  Perkins,  of  Salem,  one  of  his  pupils,  wrote: 
"He  was  admired  by  his  scholars,  as  a  teacher  and  a  gentle- 
man." Mr.  Thomas  K.  Leach,  of  Topsfield,  said:  "He  was 


30  THE  TOPSFIELD    ACADEMY. 

a  fine  man  and  an  excellent  teacher."  Rev.  Calvin  E.  Park, 
of  West  Boxford,  wrote:  "He  was  held  in  high  estimation 
both  as  to  talents  and  character." 

"Asa  Farwell,"  wrote  his  widow  from  Easthamptom,  "taught 
at  Topsfield  one  year — 1840-1.  He  was  born  to  Gurdon  and 
Anna  (Farnsworth)  Farwell,  in  Dorset,  Vt.,  March  8,  1812. 
He  fitted  for  college  under  his  pastor,  Rev.  William  Jackson, 
D.  D.,  at  Dorset,  and  at  Burr  Seminary,  Manchester,  Vt. 
He  graduated  at  Middlebury  College,  1838,  and  at  An- 
dover  Theological  Seminary  in  1842.  He  was  approbated 
to  preach  by  the  Andover  Association,  in  the  spring  of  that 
year.  From  May,  1842,  to  Nov.,  1853,  he  was  principal  of 
Abbot  Academy,  Andover.  He  traveled  in  Europe  during 
a  portion  of  1849-50.  He  was  ordained  April  12,  1853,  and 
installed  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church,  in  West  Ha- 
verhill,  and  dismissed  in  1856.  He  preached  in  Bentonport, 
on  the  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  from  1866  to  1871,  when  he  went 
to  Ashland,  24  miles  from  Lincoln,  Nebraska.  In  1877,  he 
became  professor  in  Doane  College,  Crete,  Nebraska.  In 
1 88 1,  he  returned,  in  ill  health,  to  Dorset,  and  in  1882  re- 
tired to  Ludlow,  where  his  son,  Charles  Gurdon  Farwell, 
was  principal  of  Black  River  Academy.  He  died  suddenly, 
of  paralysis  of  the  heart,  May  14,  1888,  in  his  77th  year. 

"There  have  doubtless  been  many  men  of  more  showy, 
and  among  a  large  class  of  people  of  more  popular,  talent 
than  he;  but  for  sound  scholarship  and  solid  good  sense, 
for  clear  and  scriptural  views  of  evangelical  faith,  for  sincere 
and  devoted  piety,  for  honest  and  faithful  service  as  a  min- 
ister, very  few  men  have  excelled  him." 

His  first  wife  was  Hannah  Sexton,  of  Windsor,  Ct.,  who 
was  married  Dec.  10,  1845,  an<^  died  Sept.  4,  1848.  His 
second  wife  was  her  sister  Mary  Ann  Sexton,  who  was  mar- 
ried Aug.  10,  1849,  and  with  four  sons  of  his  six  children 
survives  him. 

WILLIAM    FAYETTE    KENT. 

William  Fayette  Kent  followed  Prof.  Farwell.  He  was 
born  in  Dorset,  Vt.,  in  July,  1820,  and  graduated  at  Middle- 
bury  College,  in  1839.  He  was  principal  of  Bennington 
Academy,  1839-40,  and  probably  taught  here  next;  he  was 


EDMUND     F.    SLAFTER.  31 

taxed  here,  as  was  Mr.  Farwell,  in  1841.  He  taught  nearly 
two  terms.  He  was  a  very  pleasant  man  and  teacher,  but 
was  reading  law  at  the  time  and  paid  more  attention  to  his 
illustrious  namesake  and  Blackstone  than  to  his  school. 
The  inevitable  result  followed.  He  left  the  school  before 
the  timely  ending  of  the  term.  It  is  said  he  read  law  in 
Salem.  For  some  years  he  was  a  mercantile  agent  in  the 
West  and  South.  In  1851,  he  resided  in  Zanesville,  O.  He 
died  in  1856 — probably  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.  He  was  an 
energetic  man,  a  fine  scholar,  and  a  brilliant  speaker.  He 
delivered  an  oration  at  a  Fourth  of  July  celebration  in 
Topsfield,  and  Hon.  Asahel  Huntington,  Otis  P.  Lord,  Esq., 
(afterwards  Judge  Lord)  and  Secretary  Crowninshield  of 
the  U.  S.  Navy,  were  some  of  the  dignitaries  who  graced 
the  occasion. 

Mr.  Humphrey  Balch,  of  Topsfield,  very  highly  compli- 
mented his  effort  on  that  occassion,  in  giving  us  some  account 
of  the  celebration,  and  Mr.  E.  R.  Perkins  wrote :  "He  was  a 
fine  orator.  His  oration  was  an  eloquent  production  and 
was  widely  commented  upon  and  praised." 

EDMUND     FARWELL    SLAFTER. 

Mr.  Slafter  was  principal  of- the  Academy  one  year,  he  says, 
beginning  in  the  autumn  of  1841,  and  ending  with  the  sum- 
mer term  of  1842.  He  was  born  May  30,  1816,  and  gradu- 
ated at  Dartmouth  in  1840.  "As  a  teacher,  he  was  liked 
very  well,"  wrote  one  of  his  pupils.  He  has  gained  celebrity 
in  the  pulpit,  and  is  widely  known  as  an  archaeologist,  whose 
authority  is  in  high  repute.  He  was  ordained  by  the  Rt. 
Rev.  Manton  Eastburne,  D.  D.,  July  12,  1844;  was  Rector 
of  St.  Peter's  church,  Cambridge,  two  years ;  of  St.  John's, 
Jamaica  Plain,  1846-53  ;  was  superintendent  in  the  American 
Bible  Society  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  twenty 
years;  is  a  member  of  the  Mass.  Historical  Society;  Royal 
Historical  Society  of  England ;  president  of  the  Prince  So- 
ciety, and  has  been  a  member  of  its  council  from  its  organi- 
zation in  1858  ;  is  registrar  of  the  Diocese  of  Massachusetts, 
and  has  issued  six  annual  reports  ;  and  is  corresponding  sec- 
retary of  the  Mass.  Bible  Society  and  chairman  of  its  pru- 
dential committee.  He  has  numerous  publications  :  Death  of 


32  THE   TOPSFIELD    ACADEMY. 

Gen.  Zachary  Taylor ;  Planting  and  Growth  of  Episcopal 
Church;  Slafter  Genealogy ;  Assassination  Plot  of  1776; 
Charter  of  Norwich,  Vt. ;  Vermont  Coinage  ;  Anniversary  of 
the  Historic-Genealogical  Society ;  Copper  Coinage,  1632; 
Pre-historic  Copper  Implements  ;  Voyages  of  the  Norsemen  ; 
Voyages  of  Champlain ;  Incorrect  Latitudes,  1535-1740; 
Royal  Arms,  Emblems,  Memorials ;  Norman  Discovery  of 
America;  making  17  volumes  in  all.  He  now  resides  in 
Boston,  at  the  age  of  83  years. 

Joseph  Edward  Bomer  was  an  assistant  to  Mr.  Slafter. 
Mrs.  S.  A.  Jenness,  of  Beverly,  writes,  that  young  Bomer 
was  a  member  of  the  Academy  in  1839,  when  Mr.  Green- 
leaf  taught.  She  was  a  student  at  the  time.  She  speaks  in 
praise  of  young  Bomer's  perseverance.  He  walked  to  the 
Academy  from  Wenham  daily.  He  began  to  teach  in  the 
winter  of  1839  (in  Hamilton,  she  thinks)  and  was  recom- 
mended by  Mr.  Greenleaf.  His  first  school  was  a  great  suc- 
cess. 

Assistant  Bomer  was  born  in  Beverly  March  14,  1819,  the 
fifth  son  in  a  family  of  nine  children.  His  father,  John  S. 
Bomer,  was  a  farmer,  and  of  French  descent.  Joseph  inher- 
ited a  delicate  constitution;  he  was  fond  of  books;  and  was 
devoted  to  intellectual  pursuits.  He  was  a  student  under  the 
tuition  of  Prof.  Slafter,  who  became  very  much  attached  to 
him,  and  later  on  engaged  him  as  assistant.  Mr.  Slafter, 
under  date  of  Nov.  10,  1842,  thus  commended  him:  — 

"This  may  certify  that  Mr.  Joseph  E.  Bomer  has  been  a 
member  of  this  institution  seven  months,  has  made  good  at- 
tainments in  study,  is  a  young  man  of  great  perseverance  and 
of  good  promise.  He  possesses  an  unimpeachable  moral 
character,  is  dignified  and  courteous  in  his  manners  and 
worthy  the  highest  esteem.  He  has  read  under  my  tuition 
several  of  Cicero's  orations,  and  a  part  of  the  y^Enead  of 
Virgil ;  likewise  the  introductory  exercises,  the  fables,  and 
1 20  paragraphs  of  Jacob's  Greek  Reader;  also  Day's  Alge- 
bra as  far  as  infinitesimals,  working  all  the  problems.  He 
has  been  a  successful  teacher,  and  I  can  most  cheerfully  re- 
commend him  as  being  well  qualified  to  instruct  in  any  town 
school  agreeably  to  the  laws  of  any  of  the  New  England 
States." 


THE 

UNIVERSITY 
or 


REV.    EDMUND    F.    SLAFTER. 


BURTON    O.    MARBLE.  33 

He  afterwards  studied  in  Phillips  Exeter  and  Phillips  An- 
dover  Academies  and  Harvard  Medical  School,  graduating 
from  the  latter  in  1848.  In  1849,  he  settled  in  Ipswich.  He 
located  near  the  residence  of  Dr.  Thomas  Manning,  the  old- 
est and  most  skillful  physician  in  the  town.  Dr.  Bomer  mar- 
ried Caroline  Elizabeth  Hayes,  daughter  of  Daniel  Hayes,  of 
Gloucester  (who  now  resides  in  Ipswich),  Oct.  23,  1850,  and 
soon  after,  Dr.  Manning,  feeling  the  burden  of  his  age  and 
profession,  invited  the  young  doctor  to  reside  with  him  and 
assume  his  practice.  The  offer  was  accepted  and  they  lived 
in  reciprocal  confidence  to  the  end.  Dr.  Bomer  was  physi- 
cian to  the  House  of  Correction  till  his  death,  examining 
surgeon  during  the  Rebellion,  and  member  of  the  school 
board  many  years.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church  and  society  and  an  earnest  supporter  of  them. 
"A  beautiful  memorial  window  was  placed  in  the  chancel  of 
the  church,  by  Rev.  Dr.  John  Cotton  Smith,  as  a  sacred  me- 
morial of  his  love  and  devotion  to  the  church."  He  was  a 
genial,  sympathetic,  Christian  gentleman,  and  was  eminently 
a  public  spirited  citizen,  and  foremost  in  all  works  of  public 
utility.  He  died  in  Ipswich,  Sept.  II,  1864,  aged  forty-five 
years. 

BURTON     ONESIPHORUS     MARBLE. 

Mr.JMarble  was  taxed  in  Topsfield  in  1844,  and  by  that 
fact  we  understand  he  taught  the  Academy  during  the  spring 
term  of  that  year.  Mr.  E.  R.  Perkins,  of  Salem,  says,  Mr. 
Marble  began  with  the  fall  term  of  1843  and  taught  through 
the  winter  and  spring,  but  is  not  sure  that  he  taught  the  fol- 
lowing summer.  He  was  born  in  Bradford,  Feb.  27,  1812, 
and  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College,  1838,  dying  at  Dover, 
N.  H.,  July  12,  1845,  savs  Chapman's  Dartmouth  Alumni. 

Mr.  Perkins  continues:  "He  was  very  sober,  stiff,  sedate; 
and  was  a  very  thorough  teacher — he  was  thorough  in  every- 
thing he  taught ;  the  lessons  assigned  were  exactly  defined 
and  to  be  thoroughly  learned — it  had  to  be  done.  He  al- 
lowed no  whispering.  It  was  the  stillest  school  I  was  ever 
in.  Each  scholar  had  to  keep  a  record  of  his  daily  work — 
of  his  errors  and  whispers.  When  a  question  was  missed, 
he  would  say,  'You  will  please  record  an  error.'  The  records 


34  THE   TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

were  examined  once  a  week.     He  was  a  teacher    to    be    re- 
spected." 

DANIEL    OSGOOD     QUINBY. 

Prof.  Quinby  was  taxed  in  Topsfield  in  1845,  and  it  is  in- 
ferred from  that  fact,  that  he  taught  the  spring  or  summer 
term  of  that  year.  His  service  ended  with  the  summer  term 
in  June,  1846.  A  correspondent  writes:  "Some  thought  he 
was  too  familiar  with  his  scholars ;  he  liked  to  play  foot-ball 
with  them,  and  was  fond  of  athletic  sports.  At  the  close  of 
the  last  term,  he  announced  to  the  school,  when  the  next 
term  would  begin.  The  old  bell  rang  the  call  but  he  never 
responded." 

Mr.  Quinby  was  born  in  Amesbury,  Dec.  21,  1821.  His 
parents  were  Capt.  Robert  and  Abigail,  who  owned  large 
farming  interests.  His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  Orlando 
Sargent.  She  was  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Sally  Weed,  who  was  100 
years  old,  Jan.  28,  1898,  and  is  now  living  in  Merrimac. 
Her  younger  brother  Francis,  was  of  the  firm  of  Francis 
Sargent  &  Co.,  carriage  manufacturers,  Boston. 

Daniel  Quinby  attended  Dummer  Academy  five  years,  un- 
der the  tuition  of  Master  Nehemiah  Cleaveland.  Joseph  H. 
Noyes,  the  next  principal  of  the  Topsfield  Academy,  was  a 
classmate.  Mr.  Quinby  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College  in 
1839.  In  his  class  were  the  the  late  Judge  Choate  ofj5alem, 
Hon.  William  D.  Northend,  also  of  Salem,  and  W.  W.  Cald 
well,  of  Newburyport. 

Directly  after  graduation  and  while  a  law-student,  he 
taught  school  two  years  in  Maine.  Then  returning  home  to 
Amesbury,  he  sought  and  obtained  the  principalship  of  the 
Topsfield  Academy.  The  office,  however,  not  proving  suf- 
ficiently remunerative,  he  resigned  at  the  end  of  the  school 
year,  June,  1846. 

After  leaving  the  Academy,  he  was  engaged,  as  teacher, 
in  Watertown,  Mass. ;  High  school,  Dover,  N.  H. ;  Norwich 
Academy,  Ct. ;  Union-Hall  Academy,  Jamaica,  L.  I. ;  and 
was  sometime  professor  of  chemistry  in  New  York  City. 
During  the  last  dozen  years  of  his  life,  he  was  engaged  in  a 
proprietary  medicine  business. 

Mr.    Quinby    married,   Nov.    25,  1859,  Miss    Clara    Belle 


JOSEPH    H.    NOYES.  35 

Moulton,  sister  of  H.  W.  Moulton,  Esq.,  of  Newburyport, 
and  had  five  children,  four  of  whom  died"  in  infancy.  His 
eldest  child  was  a  lady  of  great  promise,  residing,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-one  (1890),  in  Paterson,  N.  J.  Mrs.  Quinby  died 
in  Boston,  Nov.  30,  1882  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years.  Mr. 
Quinby  died  of  paralysis  of  the  brain,  in  Haverhill,  Mass., 
at  the  home  of  his  brother,  Thomas  W.  Quinby,  Dec.  23, 
1894,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years  and  a  day.  The  re- 
mains of  all  his  dead  repose  in  the  Belleville  Cemetery,  New- 
buryport, near  the  old  Amesbury  cemetery  where  lies  the 
ashes  of  their  ancestors  for  the  last  two  hundred  and  forty- 
six  years. 

JOSEPH     HALE     NOYES. 

Mr.  Noyes  taught  three  terms  in  the  year  1846,  beginning 
in  March  or  April.  He  was  born  in  Byfield  Parish,  New- 
bury,  May  12,  1825,  to  Dea.  Daniel  and  Mary  Hale  (Par- 
ish) Noyes,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Elijah  Parish,  dis- 
tinguished in  clerical  circles  throughout  the  state,  as  author 
and  preacher.  The  family  comprised  eight  sons  and  two 
daughters. 

Joseph  was  educated  at  Dummer  Academy,  and  was  prob- 
ably admitted  there  at  an  earlier  age  than  any  other  pupil. 
He  was  reading  Greek  when  only  ten  years  old.  He  never 
entered  college,  but  was  under  private  tutors,  at  Dummer, 
an  equivalent  of  two  years  in  college. 

He  began  life  as  teacher  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years. 
He  taught  the  Feoffee's  school  at  Ipswich  with  marked  suc- 
cess, and  was  called  to  the  Purchase  Street  school,  then  to 
the  Jackman  school,  Newburyport.  Leaving  Topsfield,  he 
was  elected  principal  of  the  High  school  in  Brattleboro,  Vt., 
and  after  that  service  had  charge  of  High  schools  in  Maiden, 
Wellesley,  and  Marblehead,  and  made  an  honorable  record 
in  Medford,  Dedham,  and  Newton.  One  of  his  Topsfield 
students  writes:  "He  was  liked  very  well  as  a  teacher;  he 
was  a  very  handsome  man  ;  a  good  penman,  and  taught  a 
writing-school  evenings,  during  the  winter  term."  Bowdoin 
College  conferred  upon  him,  July  13,  1871,  an  honorary  A. 
M.,  in  recognition  of  his  standing  as  a  classical  teacher. 
The  honor  was  not  sought  by  him,  and  came  as  a  surprise. 


36  THE   TOPSFIELD     ACADEMY. 

The  state  of  his  health  compelled  his  retirement  in  1884, 
after  a  school  service  of  more  than  forty  years  ;  when  he  re- 
turned to  Newburyport,  and  engaged  in  the  far  less  irksome 
duties  of  book-keeper  and  cashier  for  W.  H.  Noyes  &  Broth- 
er. He  was  prominent  in  church  circles,  and  for  seven  years 
was  superintendent  of  the  <%Old  South"  Sunday  school. 

Mr.  Noyes  married,  in  Newbury-Byfield,  Dec.  i,  1853, 
Miss  Abby  Maria  Young,  who  was  born  in  Newburyport, 
July  28,  1828,  to  Abigail  Tenney  and  James  Young,  a  gro- 
cer and  trader.  She  died,  in  Newburyport,  Jan.  4,  1871. 
He  married,  second,  in  Worcester,  Dec.  29,  1874,  Mary 
Elizabeth  Moore,  who  was  born  there  April  13,  1839,  to 
Mary  Fuller  and  Wm.  G.  Moore,  a  farmer.  Prof.  Noyes 
died  Sept.  25,  1896,  in  his  72nd  year.  He  had  four  children  : 
twin  sons,  born  April  26,  1857,  who  died  less  than  a  week 
old — Abbie  Parish,  born  in  Newburyport,  Aug.  28,  1861  ; 
married  Sept.  12,  1893,  in  Newburyport,  Samuel  Foster 
Jaques,  a  civil-engineer,  who  was  born  there,  Nov.  29,  1865, 
to  Rachel  Ann  Foster  and  Edmund  Jaques,  a  mill-overseer ; 
lives  in  Hyde  Park,  having  one  child,  Mildred  Noyes,  born 
in  Brockton,  Sept.  29,  1895 — James  Young,  living  in  Ded- 
ham,  born  in  Newburyport,  March  7,  1865  ;  married  in  Ded- 
ham,  Oct.  11,  1894,  Ada  Withington  Bigelow,  who  was  born 
in  West  Boylston,  May  22,  1864,  to  Maria  Elizabeth  Fuller 
and  Henry  Clay  Bigelow.  Both  father  and  son  are  engaged 
in  the  insurance  business. 

KINSMAN    ATKINSON. 

Rev.  Kinsman  Atkinson  taught  one  term  of  eleven  weeks 
in  the  fall  of  1849.  His  tuition  bills,  written  on  paper  3^  by 
2  inches,  are  dated  Nov.  I2th,  which  was  the  end  of  the  term, 
and  show  that  tuition  in  common  branches  was  three  dollars. 

Mr.  Atkinson  at  the  time  was  pastor  of  the  local  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  and  continued  there  two  years.  Dur- 
ing the  pastorate  he  also  taught  the  Linebrook  (Ipswich) 
winter  school  (  1 848-9)  and  the  Topsfield  North  winter  school 
(1849-50).  While  pastor  of  this  church,  he  bought  land  for 
a  parsonage ;  he  then  circulated  a  paper  himself  for  funds 
for  the  house ;  he  then  collected  the  money  and  built  the 
house ;  and  lastly  presented  the  parsonage  to  the  trustees  of 


or  THE 

(   1/NfVERSfTY   ) 

or 
iiUroRrtM 


DANIEL   OSGOOD   QUINBY. 


JESSE   A.    WILKINS.  37 

the  society.  He  was  known  as  a  man  of  great  energy,  quick 
to  discover  a  need  and  alert  to  supply  it,  and  is  remembered 
with  gratitude  and  great  respect. 

Mr.  Atkinson  was  born  at  Buxton,  Me.,  to  John  and  Olive 
(Haley)  Atkinson,  Oct.  16,  1807;  and  died  at  Cambridge, 
Mass.,  Dec.  23,  1888.  He  was  one  of  twelve  children;  at 
six  years,  removing  with  his  parents  to  Eaton,  N.  H.  In 
1825,  he  studied  at  Fryeburg  Academy,  Me.;  in  1826,  at 
Atkinson  Academy,  N.  H.,  and  that  year  taught  in  Wen- 
ham.  He  finished  his  preparation  for  college  at  Phillips 
(Andover)  Academy,  and  entered  Bowdoin  College  in  1831  ; 
he  joined  the  junior  class  in  Harvard  in  1833,  where  he 
graduated  in  1834.  He  studied  divinity  (as  it  used  to  be 
called)  at  Andover,  and  Dr.  Leonard  Woods,  professor  in 
the  institution,  paid  him  the  high  tribute:  "Kinsman  Atkin- 
son is  a  young  man  of  refined  feelings,  ardent  piety,  and  the 
best  scholar  in  his  class."  He  was  ordained  a  Congrega- 
tionalist  in  1838,  but  after  five  years  service,  changed  his 
views  of  church  government  and  joined  the  M.  E.  church. 
From  1858  to  1860,  he  was  a  supernumerary  and  after  1861 
superannuate,  when  he  made  Cambridge  his  home.  His 
neighbors  said  of  him :  "He  always  aims  to  do  right" ; 
others  say,  "We  are  convinced  that  he  loved  the  Lord  with 
all  his  might,  mind,  and  strength,  and  his  neighbors  as 
himself." 

JESSE    ALLISON    WILKINS. 

Mr.  Wilkins  taught  the  Academy,  the  spring  and  summer 
terms  of  1850,  teaching  the  Topsfield  Center  Grammar 
school  the  preceding  winter  and  the  one  following. 

He  was  born  at  Middleton,  Mass.,  Sept.  10,  1830,  the 
eighth  child  and  fourth  son  in  a  family  of  thirteen  children. 
His  parents  were  James  Wilder  and  Betsey  (Smith)  Wilkins. 
His  mother  was  a  devout  Christian  and  helpful  in  church 
and  society.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  who  made  home 
happy,  his  lands  productive,  and  was  held  in  excellent  re- 
pute among  his  people,  so  that  he  practiced  almost  every 
office  in  their  gift.  In  his  seventy-sixth  year  he  was  elected 
to  represent  his  district  in  the  state  legislature. 

Jesse  Wilkins  attended  the  public  school  of  his  town,  and 


38  THE   TOPSFIELD    ACADEMY. 

during  his  twelfth  summer  the  Topsfield  Academy,  under 
the  patronage  of  his  uncle  Dr.  George  Sawyer,  of  Boxford, 
who  boarded  him  and  paid  his  tuition.  His  father  gave  him 
"his  time"  when  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age.  He  assumed 
his  middle  name.  His  first  business  was  an  employing  shoe- 
maker. While  thus  engaged,  he  experienced  a  change  of 
heart,  which  changed  his  life  purpose  and  labor. 

He  began  to  prepare  for  the  teacher's  vocation  in  the 
spring  of  1846,  at  the  Normal  Academy,  Westfield.  He 
studied  afterwards  at  Williston  Seminary,  Easthampton, 
where  he  finished  his  English  course.  In  the  spring  of 
1851,  he  entered  the  classical  department  of  Phillips  (Ando- 
ver)  Academy.  From  that  time  his  course  was  frequently 
interrupted  by  the  want  of  funds,  and  he  was  obliged  to 
have  recourse  to  his  English  attainments  in  the  practice  of 
archery.  "Teaching  the  young  idea  how  to  shoot."  How 
long  he  studied  at  Andover  is  unknown  to  me,  he  was,  how- 
ever, a  member  of  the  junior  and  middle  classes.  The 
spring  and  fall  of  1853,  he  attended  Phillips  (Exeter) 
Academy. 

His  first  school  was  in  Beverly,  the  winter  of  1847-8.  He 
taught  four  grammar  schools  in  Gloucester — two  successive 
winters  at  Riverdale,  Haskell  district ;  then  the  Harbor  win- 
ter school ;  then  the  Point  school,  and  afterwards  the  prin- 
cipal grammar  school  at  the  Harbor.  He  was  next  elected 
to  the  principal  school  in  Newbury,  then  to  the  South  gram- 
mar school  in  Beverly,  where  he  remained  several  terms — 
till  he  resolved  to  relinquish  the  profession  in  1854.  In 
1855,  he  resumed  his  classical  studies  in  the  private  school 
of  Rev.  Dr.  Luther  Wright,  Easthampton,  the  first  princi- 
pal of  Williston  Seminary.  The  school  was  closed  at  the 
end  of  his  second  term,  and  he  entered  the  family  school  of 
Rev  Edward  Root  of  Williamsburg,  the  winter  of  1856. 
Mr.  Root  accepted  a  call  to  Springfield,  Ohio,  and  his  stu- 
dent accepted  the  tuition  of  Rev.  Dr.  Gerdon  Hall,  North- 
ampton. He  completed  his  classical  studies  with  Prof. 
Calvin  Stone,  at  Andover,  during  the  long  summer  vacation 
of  1857,  and  that  fall  entered  Andover  Theological  Semin- 
ary. Owing  to  a  protracted  sickness,  he  did  not  graduate 
until  1861. 


JESSE   A.    WILKINS.  39 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Essex  South  Associa- 
tion of  Ministers,  March  5th,  1860.,  Dr.  J.  E.  Dwinell, 
moderator.  He  has  had  four  pastorates :  the  First  Con- 
gregational Church,  Hubbardston,  Mass.,  1861  and  2;  First 
Congregational  Church,  Woodstock,  Conn.,  1864  and  5  ; 
the  United  Churches,  Chesterfield,  Mass.,  1867  and  8;  and 
the  First  Congregational  Church,  North  Scituate,  R.  I.,  1868 
and  9. 

He  continued  in  the  ministry,  till  the  spring  of  1871, 
when  he  was  completely  broken  by  nervous  prostration. 
Repeated  efforts  to  recuperate  proved  unavailing,  and  he 
sought  the  open  air,  an  active  pursuit,  a  quieter  and  less  ex- 
acting life,  and  became  an  independent  farmer.  He  located 
in  Woodstock,  Conn. ;  his  health  is  precarious,  but  he  is 
able  most  of  the  time  to  attend  to  the  duties  of  his  farm. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

THE    PERIOD    OF   GREATEST   ACTIVITY. 
GEORGE    CONANT   AND   J.    W.    HEALY. 


Israel  Rea  and  Benjamin  P.  Adams  were  chiefly  instrument- 
al in  the  reopening  of  the  Academy  under  the  tuition  of  Mr. 
George  Conant,  in  1852.  Tuition  bills  are  extant,  dated 
June  29,  and  Oct.  5,  1852,  and  July  7,  and  Oct.  5,  1853.  The 
first  term  of  1853,  began  Jan.  19,  and  continued  twelve  weeks. 
Miss  Lovering  was  preceptress  in  1852,  and  Miss  S.  F. 
Nichols  and  Miss  Mary  Anne  Friend  of  Georgetown  in  1853. 

The  school  prospered  greatly  under  Mr.  Conant.  Its  old- 
time  reputation  and  activity  returned.  There  were  the  De- 
bating Club,  the  Young  Men's  League,  and  dramatic  exhibi- 
tions, which  excited  great  local  interest  and  much  favorable 
comment.  The  debates  were  participated  in  by  the  citizens 
as  if  they  were  students  again.  The  interests  of  school  and 
people  seemed  identical,  and  all  gained  pleasure  and  profit. 
Mr.  Conant  was  apt  in  his  management  of  the  school,  in  his 
methods  of  teaching,  and  in  his  planning  and  conducting  the 
public  exhibitions.  Miss  Nichols  was  an  accomplished  scholar 
and  belonged  to  a  prominent  family  in  Lowell.  She  was  a 
recent  graduate.  Miss  Lovering  was  much  older  and  was 
employed  more  as  a  music  teacher  than  as  a  teacher  of  gen- 
eral branches.  Miss  Friend  whom  he  married  in  the  fall  of 
1853,  was  daughter  of  John  Friend  and  born  in  Andover,  in 
1829.  She  was  reared  in  Boxford,  and  taught  school  in 
Georgetown.  Her  writings,  both  prose  and  verse  "were 
much  admired." 

Miss  Friend  became  his  wife  in  the  fall  of  1853,  before 
his  last  term.  She  taught  with  him  about  twenty-nine 
years,  and  died  very  suddenly  in  Alexandria,  N.  Y.  After 
leaving  Topsfield  they  were  principal  and  preceptress  of 

(40) 


GEORGE    CONANT.  41 

Hanover  Academy,  Plymouth  County,  after  which  they  re- 
moved to  Ohio,  where  they  taught  seventeen  years.  He  was 
superintendent  of  schools  and  she  taught  in  the  High  school. 
They  afterward  taught  successively  in  Kenosha,  Wis.,  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.,  and  Aurora,  near  Buffalo,  for  seven  years. 

Mr.  Conant  was  born  at  Provincetown,  Mass.,  May  8,  1827. 
His  father  was  Rufus  Conant,  a  merchant  in  Sandwich  for 
thirty  years.  He  was  educated  mainly  by  himself,  attending 
an  academy  only  a  few  terms.  While  he  lived  at  Lyme,  N. 
H. — a  few  years  about  1840-45 — he  was  a  playmate  with 
Judge  C.  C.  Conant,  now  of  Greenfield,  Mass.  By  a  sad 
accident  he  lost  an  eye  when  a  small  child.  He  was  a  fine 
scholar,  medium  height,  and  blue-eyed.  He  had  a  younger 
brother  Rufus,  who  was  of  Farnsworth  &  Conant,  lawyers, 
Court  St.,  Boston,  and  who  died  March  17,  1880,  leaving  a 
widow,  who  now  resides  at  Brookline. 

Mr.  Conant  has  furnished  us  with  the  following  very  mod- 
est yet  pleasing  account  of  himself:  — 

"I  taught  my  first  school  in  the  wilds  of  New  Hampshire, 
in  the  winter  of  '43  and  '44.  I  was  then  between  16  and  17 
years  of  age.  Six  inches  of  snow  lay  on  the  ground  the  day 
I  opened  school,  Oct.  22,  and  it  never  fully  left  the  ground 
during  the  sixteen  weeks  of  the  session.  I  received  two  dol- 
lars a  week  and  "boarded  round."  The  good  mothers  put 
the  schoolmaster  in  the  best  room  and  bed,  without  a  fire, 
ice  and  frost  often  sparkling  in  the  candle-light  on  the  walls. 
He  thawed  out  the  icy  sheets  with  his  warm  young  blood, 
and  was  ready  to  rise  and  enjoy  a  solid  breakfast  with  the 
family  before  daylight.  Often  the  snow  was  so  deep  and  the 
distance  to  the  school-house  so  great,  that  the  big  sled  used 
for  hauling  wood  was  turned  over,  five  or  six  rollicking  girls 
and  boys  piled  on  with  their  well-filled  dinner  pails,  a  yoke 
of  oxen  hitched  on,  and  with  the  snow  up  to  the  horned  ani- 
mals noses,  they  ploughed  their  slow  cold  way  to  the  school- 
house  amid  the  pranks  and  laughter  of  the  living  freight. 

Fifty  years  afterward  exactly,  I  visited  that  neighborhood, 
hunted  for  some  relic  of  the  "little  red  school  house",  but  did 
not  only  fail  to  find  some  reminder  of  the  old  building,  but 
had  difficulty  even  in  locating  the  site;  for  trees  a  foot  in 
diameter  stood  where  I  a-half-century  before,  had  "wielded 


42  THE  TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

the  birch."  In  my  poem  entitled  "The  District  School  of 
Fifty  Years  Ago,"  I  find  the  following  lines  on  "Boarding 
Round." 

The  contract  with  each  teacher  then 
Was  "so  much  a  month  and  found  ;" 

The  finding  in  those  early  days 

Was  known  as  "Boarding  Round." 

How  oft  the  "Master"  wished  he'd  never 

Had  a  calling  so  renowned, 
Made  to  sit  in  the  chimney  corner, 

A  kind  of  oracle  "Boarding  Round." 

Six  hours  labor  in  the  school-room, 
Ten  hours  in  the  grind-stone  ground  ! 

What  a  place  to  practice  patience, 

As  he  went  circling,  "Boarding  Round." 

He  must  have  iron-clad  "digesters," 

He  must  feelings  never  wound. 
And  be  a  walking  cyclopedia 

In  every  house,  while  "Boarding  Round." 

Obliged  to  smile  and  pet  the  peevish, 

Whom  'twould  have  suited  him  to  pound, 

He  had  to  flatter  all  the  mothers, 

Or  else  he  couldn't  "Board  Around." 

Called  to  sing  when  he'd  be  sighing, 

And  as  a  victim  to  be  crowned ; 
Not  with  plaudits  but  with  outcries, 

"Awful  nice"  'twas,  "Boarding  Round  !" 

Many  a  "school-marm"  of  that  old-time, 
Was  like  a  pack-horse  broken  down, 

Carrying  loads  by  day  and  night-time, 
As  she  plodded  "Boarding  Round." 

Perfumed  by  the  kitchen  frying, 
Stunned  by  noises  as  she  frowned, 

Frozen  in  the  icy  bed-rooms, 

"Awful  nice"  'twas,  "Boarding  Round  !" 


JOSEPH    WARREN    HEALY.  43 

Yet  teachers'  places  ne'er  went  begging, 
Two  dollars  weekly,  the  teacher  found, 

No  rest  or  surcease  for  the  weary, 

Yet  awful  nice  'twas,  "Boarding  Round!" 

Before  I  commenced  on  annual  school-work  I  had  taught 
five  winter  schools  :  in  Lyme  and  Nashua,  N.  H. ;  in  Marion, 
Melrose,  and  Westport  Point,  Mass.  The  first  yearly  posi- 
tion was  at  Westport  Point,  and  the  second  at  Fall  River, 
Mass.  Then  I  took  charge  of  Topsfield  Academy  for  two 
years.  Without  specifying  other  fields  of  labor,  I  will  say  in 
brief,  I  was  six  years  as  Principal  in  annual  schools,  seven- 
teen years  as  superintendent  of  City  schools,  and  nineteen 
years  as  Principal  of  Academies. 

Miss  Mary  Anne  Friend,  of  Georgetown,  was  my  last  as- 
sistant in  Topsfield.  She  became  my  wife  in  1853  and  taught 
with  me  twenty-nine  years.  She  was  an  accomplished  and 
thorough  teacher,  a  writer  and  a  poet.  She  excelled  as  a 
mathematician  and  teacher  of  Latin  and  French.  She  could 
shower  figures  on  the  black-board  with  either  hand,  and  at 
times  cipher  with  both  hands  at  a  time,  an  accomplishment 
seldom  witnessed.  She  died  suddenly  of  heart  disease  in 
Alexandria,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  18,  1883.  I  have  for  the  past  five 
years  resided  in  Pasadena,  California,  and  expect  to  make  it 
my  permanent  home.  I  gave  up  teaching  in  1892,  having 
been  in  the  school-room  nearly  forty-five  years." 

Mr.  Conant  is  a  member  of  the  Southern  California  Acad- 
emy of  Science.  He  travels  extensively,  and  is  correspond- 
ent for  the  State  Press  Association  of  California. 

JOSEPH    WARREN    HEALY. 

J.  W.  Healy,  A.  B.,  succeeded  Mr  Conant.  He  began 
with  the  summer  term  of  1854,  and  bought  the  property  the 
next  following  vacation.  His  wife,  Mrs.  Jane  C.  Healy,  was 
preceptress.  He  employed  as  his  assistants,  men  of  strong 
character  and  excellent  scholarship.  In  1855-6  H.  J.  Richard- 
son, A.  B.,  assisted  in  mathematics  and  natural  sciences ;  A. 
J.  Pike,  A.  B.,  followed  him.  Prof.  C.  P.  kronson  lectured 
on  physiology  and  elocution,  and  Prof.  A.  P.  Shattuck  taught 
penmanship.  Among  his  assistant  pupils  were  Daniel  Wil- 


44  THE   TOPSFIELD     ACADEMY. 

kins  in  mathematics;  A.  B.  Coffin  and  G.  L.  R.  Gleason  in 
vocal  music ;  Nelson  Spofford  and  Susan  E.  Perley  in 
English  branches. 

Mr.  Healy's  first  term  numbered  fifty  scholars ;  the  sec- 
ond, sixty-nine;  the  third,  or  winter  (1854-5),  seventy-two; 
the  spring,  one  hundred  and  two.  During  1855-6,  the  stu- 
dents numbered  two  hundred  and  three,  ladies  ninety-two, 
gentlemen  one  hundred  and  eleven ;  in  classics  fifty-two,  in 
English  one  hundred  and  ninety-seven  ;  summer  term  seven- 
ty-five, fall  term  one  hundred, .  winter  term  ninety-eight, 
spring  term  one  hundred  and  sixteen.  It  seemed  as  if  the 
school  had  at  last  eaten  of  the  tree  of  life  and  would  live 
forever. 

He  revised  and  enlarged  the  course  of  study  and  adapted 
it  to  existing  needs.  He  established  two  departments,  Class- 
ical and  English,  and  made  "the  course,"  three  years,  of  four 
terms  each.  His  classical  course,  arranged  for  mental  disci- 
pline, led  directly  into  New  England  college  life.  His  Eng- 
lish course  provided  for  the  needs  of  the  business  communi- 
ty, and  embraced  studies  in  moral  science  and  social  culture. 
The  government  was  eminently  parental.  Tuition  in  com- 
mon English  branches  was  $4.00  per  term,  in  higher  Eng- 
lish $5.00,  and  in  the  languages  $1.00  each,  extra. 

The  government  is  thus  aptly  mirrored  in  Mrs.  Morgan's 
reminiscences:  "Mr.  Healy  was  quite  remarkable  for  his 
punning  propensity,  as  a  mode  of  punishment,  and  woe  be 
to  the  unlucky  student,  who  received  a  reprimand  in  that 
way.  In  the  lower  room,  desks  opened  with  a  lid,  which, 
when  raised,  shielded  the  scholar  from  observation,  giving  a 
fine  opportunity  for  cabilistic  signs  with  fingers  and  face, 
but  the  'old  high  desk,'  reached  by  four  steps,  was  the  great- 
est torture.  For  some  misdemeanor,  the  Preceptor,  with  the 
blandest  smile,  would  request  the  offender  to  occupy  the 
chair  at  his  side ;  then  while  a  recitation  was  in  progress,  he 
would  draw  the  attention  of  the  whole  school  to  the  recrean- 
cy, with  his  facetious  remarks,  causing  a  roar  of  merriment. 
Oh  !  what  refined  torture  to  sensitive  nerves,  but  salutary  in 
its  effect.  Government  was  good,  and  pupils  were  always 
interested  in  his  mode  of  teaching,  which  was  quite  original, 
presenting  old  truths  in  a  new  dress." 


REV.    JOSEPH    WARREN    HEALY. 


THE    SCHOOL   LYCEUM.  45 

Every  Wednesday  afternoon  was  devoted  to  rhetorical 
exercises.  Original  compositions  were  read  by-  the  ladies, 
and  declamations  or  compositions  rendered  by  the  gentle- 
men. Mrs.  Morgan  here  remarks,  "During  those  years  when 
more  than  a  hundred  pupils  responded  to  the  roll-call,  it  was 
a  trying  ordeal  for  a  young  man  to  deliver  his  "maiden 
speech,"  and  the  ladies'  presence  proffered  no  overtures  of 
sympathy,  but  rather  added  to  his  discomfiture  by  smiles  and 
suppressed  laughter.  In  the  Lyceum,  the  tables  were  turned, 
and  the  gentlemen  had  the  advantage,  their  laughter  was 
outright  and  hearty." 

The  Lyceum,  so  popular  and  effective  during  Mr.  Conant's 
principalship,  was  revived.  Live  questions  were  discussed, 
and  it  was  a  parliament  in  government.  Kimball,  Gleason, 
Wiley,  Clark,  Pierce,  Hardy,  Wilkins,  Merriam,  Harvey, 
Pearson,  Towne,  Porter,  Rea,  Balch,  Stowe,  Newell,  Dodge, 
Fowler,  Ames,  Rollins,  and  others  we  cannot  now  recall,  were 
the  Websters,  Clays,  and  Henrys  of  the  occasion. 

Besides  the  Lyceum,  each  yearly  and  semi-annual  examin- 
ation closed  with  an  exhibition.  The  exhibitions  were  antici- 
pated with  great  interest  by  students  and  citizens  alike. 
They  were  planned  to  entertain  the  people.  They  were  of 
high  character,  morally  and  intellectually.  They  were  the 
best  effort  of  the  originators  and  actors.  The  lyceums  were 
not  alone  confined  to  the  students;  citizens  were  invited, 
and  many  a  civilian  engaged  in  the  "war  of  words,"  and 
many  a  spectator  enjoyed  the  forensic  efforts  and  the  mirth. 
The  practice  was  a  strong  one ;  it  brought  the  two  together, 
and  a  sympathy  between  the  school  and  the  people  sprung 
up,  of  mutual  benefit.  Here,  too,  the  ladies  participated. 
If  the  efforts  of  the  gentlemen  were  golden,  the  papers  pre- 
pared by  the  ladies  for  the  occasions  were  jewels  in  gold- 
settings.  They  were  filled  with  solid  thought,  with  wit  and 
wisdom,  and  sparkled  with  merriment.  They  added  much  or 
most,  to  the  enjoyment  and  success  of  the  occasions. 

They  prepared  a  paper  each  week.  Before  us  is  a  copy 
of  the  Iris  and  two  copies  of  the  Excelsior.  Iris  No.  4, 
says  "  the  number  of  our  subscribers  is  continually  increas- 
ing"— a  phrase  which  if  original  with  the  Iris  and  had  been 
patented  would  have  made  a  millionaire  of  the  editor,  for 


46  THE   TOPSFIELD     ACADEMY. 

every  publisher  uses  it  now.  One  of  the  correspondents  had 
a  dream,  in  which  a  stationer's  show-window  was  exhibited 
to  him  with  ink  in  it  that  would  write  on  any  subject  without 
the  penman's  thought,  except  that  he  choose  the  ink  adapt- 
ed. He  tried  some — "Sniggs*  Sublime  Ink" — with  this  re- 
sult:— 

THE   TEMPEST   CLOUD. 

"Behold  yon  monster  black  as  night, 
On  cloudy  pinions  swift  he  comes ; 
He  rends  the  oak  with  lightning  bright — 
Those  thorns  and  firey-forked  tongues. 
His  bellowing  strikes  the  earth  with  fear, 
All  nations  tremble  at  the  sight. 
How  weep  the  skies  when  he  is  near ! 
The  mountains  reel  and  rock  with  fright!" 

The  next  was  "Sniggs'  Love  Ink." 

"Fair  Julia,  smile  on  me  again, 
Nay,  do  not  wear  that  look  of  scorn ; 
Bid  hope  within  my  bosom  reign,      v 
Bid  joy  return  and  doubt  begone. 
Take  back  those  cruel,  cruel  words 
That  thou  so  hastily  hast  spoken ; 
Let  not  the  heart  that  beats  for  thee — 
For  thee  alone,  be  rudely  broken." 

The  Iris  being  a  model  family  paper,  of  course  had  a 
children's  column. 

CONUNDRUMS. 

What  street  is  particularly  attractive  to  a  certain  young 
gentleman  of  our  school?  Bradstreet.  [Though  ordinarily 
a  hard  question,  hardly  a  scholar  could  Dodge  the  correct 
answer  as  given.] 

Who  buys  algebra  by  the  cent's  worth?     S.  Noyes. 

Who  trades  in  old  boots  and  neck  stocks?  Perley,  Dodge, 
Jenniss  &Co. 

The  Excelsior  was  edited  by  Miss  Charlotte  E.  Perkins. 
These  articles  are  particularly  good  :  "Education,"  "The  Use 


JOSEPH    WARREN    HEALY.  47 

of  Tobacco,"  and  ''Slavery."  Here  are  a  couple  of  conun- 
drums :  "What  young  man  is  likely  to  be  in  great  demand 
the  coming  winter?  Cole  (coal).  A  certain  young  lady 
has  a  warlike  spirit — why?  She's  in  favor  of  Killam. 

Here  is  one  of  the  propositions  from  Dorman's  Moral 
Geometry  :  Theorem — Truth  in  a  very  low  place  is  falsehood. 
First  let  it  be  admitted  that  all  the  old  proverbs  are  true. 
Then  submit :  "Truth  cannot  be  hid,  though  it  lies  in  a  well." 
Extending  the  "figure,"  we  see  that  in  times  of  great  danger, 
a  man  may  lie  if  so  disposed.  Q.  E.  D.  Corollary — Truth  is 
an  elastic  substance,  from  the  fact  that  men  can  stretch  true 
stories. 

I  am  favored  with  an  order  of  examination.  These  were 
usually  interspersed  with  rhetorical  exercises  and  occupied 
two  or  three  days. 

The  last  days  of  the  term,  May  12-13,  1856,  were  occupied 
with  compositions,  by  Misses  E.  C.  Batchelder,  S.  A.  Low,  M. 
E.  Jones,  M.  Hale,  E.  A.  Hood,  C.  Rogers,  R.  P.  Perley,  C.  A. 
Perkins,  R.  E.  Emerson,  L.  M.  Bixby,  C.  E.  Perkins,  C.  M. 
Low,  E.  G.  Dorman,  and  E.  A.  A.  Rea;  and  with  orations 
by  gentlemen,  D.  S.  Balch,  S.  P.  Fowler,  C.  Newell,  H.  B. 
Putnam,  S.  A.  Merriam,  H.  G.  Rollins,  H.  S.  Clark,  G.  LeR. 
Gleason,  and  George  Pierce,  Jr.  The  subjects  are  not  given. 

The  exercises  in  the  evening  were  in  the  Congregational 
church  and  consisted  of  invocation,  address  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Dwinell,  of  Salem,  poem  by  S.  J.  Pike,  Esq.,  of  Lawrence, 
which  were  interspersed  with  music  by  Wales'  Serenade  and 
Quadrille  Band. 

"Rev.  Joseph  Warren  Healy,  D.  D.,  was  born  in  South 
Hero,  Vt,  April  u,  1827,  to  Nathaniel  and  Jane  (Tabor) 
Healy.  He  fitted  for  college  at  Newbury  Seminary  and 
Bradford  Academy,  Vt.  He  graduated  at  the  University  of 
Vermont  in  1852.  He  was  principal  of  the  Bath  Academy, 
N.  H.,  before  coming  to  Topsfield.  While  teaching  at  Tops- 
field,  he  supplied  the  pulpit  of  the  Linebrook  (Ipswich) 
church,  perhaps  two  years.  The  Linebrook  society  made 
him  a  life  member  of  the  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  April 
10,  1856.  The  church  and  society  under  his  guidance,  en- 
joyed a  period  of  harmony  and  prosperity,  and  grew  in 
numbers  and  healthful  strength.  While  at  Topsfield  he  at- 


48  THE  TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

tended  lectures  at  the  Andover  Theological  Seminary,  and 
was  licensed  by  the  Salem  Congregational  Association. 
Leaving  the  Academy,  he  preached  at  Royalston,  Gardner 
and  Walpole.  Then  removing  to  the  West,  he  preached  six 
years  in  Milwaukee,  and  four  years  in  Chicago.  While  there 
he  was  called  to  the  pastorate  and  presidency  of  Straight 
University,  in  New  Orleans,  La.  There  he  attended  medical 
lectures  and  received  the  medical  degree.  In  1871,  Olivet 
College,  Mich.,  conferred  upon  him  the  doctorate  of  divinity. 
He  was  also  an  LL.  D.*  In  1871,  he  was  delegated  by  the 
American  Missionary  Association  to  visit  Great  Britain  and 
organize  an  auxiliary  to  that  society.  He  resided  in  London 
as  its  secretary  for  three  years.  While  abroad,  he  visited 
the  continent  and  the  East,  and  lectured  in  the  principal 
cities  of  Great  Britain.  Returning  home  he  was  elected  pro- 
fessor of  English  literature  and  pastoral  theology  in  Mary- 
ville  College,  Tenn.  Preferring  an  active  pastorate  to  the 
routine  of  professional  life,  he  returned  to  Milwaukee  in  1878. 
The  death  of  his  wife  prostrated  him.  Subsequently  he  went 
to  California  for  his  health.  In  1883,  he  was  a  pastor  in 
Oakland,  Cal.  Upon  the  incorporation  of  Sierre-Madre  Col- 
lege, at  Pasadena,  in  1884,  he  was  selected  as  the  president. 
Subsequent  to  1885,  he  retired  from  the  ministry,  resided  in 
San  Diego,  Cal.,  and  latterly  practised  medicine." 

*For  the  purpose  of  the  General  Catalogue  of  his  Alma  Mater,  it  was 
thought  necessary  to  know  the  source  and  date  of  his  title  LL.  D.,  and 
the  date  of  his  title  M.  D.  About  twenty-five  communications  are  before 
me  relative  to  its  source  and  their  dates.  They  all  rest  upon  memory, 
and  agree  wonderfully  in  regard  to  the  time,  yes,  and  source  also.  The 
words  of  Gen.  Chas.  H.  Howard  and  Rev.  E.  M.  Strieby,  D.  D.,  who 
were  quite  familiar  with  his  work  in  New  Orleans,  are  as  pertinent  as 
any. 

Gen.  Howard  says: 

"My  impression  is  strong  that  the  title  LL.  D.,  was  given  Dr.  Healy 
bv  Straight  University,  at  the  time  of  his  going  to  Europe."  Later  he 
wrote: — "I  remember  that  Dr.  Healy  had  the  degree  conferred  upon  him, 
about  the  time  he  went  abroad  to  reside  in  London,  and  that  is  about 
all  I  know  concerning  the  matter." 

Dr.  Strieby  writes: 

"The  vague  impression  on  my  mind  is  that  he  obtained  this  degree, 
with  several  other  honorary  titles,  such  as  F.  R.  S.,  etc.,  in  Great  Britain. 
Of  this  I  am  not  sure.  It  is  barely  possible  they  may  have  been  given 
to  him  by  the  S.  U."  *  *  *  *  "Yet,  I  fear  that  nothing  will  be  found,  for 
our  people  were  then  engaged  in  making  history  and  not  in  writing  it." 


JOSEPH    WARREN    HEALY.  49 

Mr.  Healy  was  a  diligent  worker,  an  excellent  teacher, 
social,  genial,  a  ready  reader  of  human  nature,  and  easily 
made  himself  master.  He  led  his  school ;  his  scholars  were 
ambitious,  diligent,  social,  and  in  the  main  made  the  most  of 
their  opportunities.  He  was  ambitious.  In  whatever  he  en- 
gaged, he  threw  his  entire  self.  Whatever  he  did,  was  well 
done,  from  principle.  Every  station  he  held  he  made  an 
opening  door  to  the  next  higher  station.  He  used  to  say  to 
his  scholars  :  "Be  not  bent  by  circumstances,  but  bend  them."* 
He  loved  to  do  good,  realizing  that  in  such  service  was  his 
highest  honor.  That  idea  was  the  inspiration  of  his  life  ;  and 
his  life  subserved  that  great  end. 

While  preaching  at  Linebrook,  he  took  one  and  another 
of  his  older  students  with  him,  to  the  religious  meetings  of 
the  parish,  thus  introducing  them  into  society  and  its  service, 
and  giving  a  practical  turn  to  school  life.  We  know  of  his 
saying  "Come  into  the  school  and  if  the  burden  of  the  tuition 
is  too  great,  it  will  be  remitted."  Whatever  was  money  in 
his  family  was  good  for  tuition,  and  many  a  farmer-lad  thus 
figured  out  results  to  a  fraction.  Among  his  students,  he 
was  a  whole  "Lend-a-Hand"  Society,  judicious  and  efficient. 

After  leaving  the  Academy,  but  before  going  west,  he 
united  the  society  of  Royalston,  paid  their  church  debt  and 
repaired  the  church.  At  Walpole  he  enlarged  the  sphere  and 
usefulness  of  the  church  and  society,  and  solidified  its 
strength.  He  was  at  Gardner,  a  preacher  they  praised. 
Coming  out  of  the  church  edifice  one  Sunday,  we  heard — 
"That  was  an  able  discourse" — "yes,  it  was  ;  I  never  heard  that 
subject  handled  better."  His  society  was  proud  of  him. 

In  the  west,  he  was  the  same  scholarly,  eloquent  helper. 
In  Chicago  he  was,  under  God,  the  organizer  of  twelve  reli- 
gious societies  that  built  church  edifices.  But  more,  he  would 
herald  the  truth  from  pulpit  and  press.  He  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  The  Advance,  a  paper  of  high  rank  and  doctrinal 
authority. 

*Circumstances,  on  occasions,  seemed  to  be  made  for  him,  or  required 
but  little  bending.  Upon  hearing  a  rumor  of  Mr.  Healy's  death,  the 
writer  sent  a  missive  of  inquiry  into  his  vicinity.  The  letter  fell  into 
his  hand,  when  he  immediately  sent  "a  penny  messenger"  on  which  was 
written:  "Psalm  118,  vs.  18  and  17.  As  ever  thine.  J.  W.  H." 


50  THE   TOPSFIELD    ACADEMY. 

In  New  Orleans,  he  was  pastor  of  the  First  Congregational 
Church,  and  was  consulted  for  "the  benefit  of  his  judgment 
in  selecting  points  in  Louisiana,  for  schools."  During  the 
year  1869-70,  he  was  president  of  Straight  University,  and 
superintendent  of  church  organization  for  Louisiana,  Missis- 
sippi, and  Texas.  The  next  two  years  he  was  president, 
three  years  in  all,  but  was  absent  in  Great  Britain,  soliciting 
funds  for  scholarships.  This  was  his  work  for  the  A.  M.  A., 
the  patron  of  the  University. 

The  test  of  establishing  churches  and  schools  in  the  South, 
just  following  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  was  as  exacting  as  it 
was  noble.  It  required  judgment  and  knowledge  pre-emi- 
nent, tact  and  discretion,  and,  withall,  a  readiness  of  heart 
and  hand.  It  was  a  place  of  dignity,  learning  and  religious 
character.  Mr.  Healy's  part  was  done  acceptably,  promptly 
and  honorably.  So  well  and  favorably  was  he  known  and 
appreciated  among  the  literati,  that  there  was  power  in  the 
mention  of  his  name. 

Rev.  D.  W.  Hanna,  president  of  Los  Angeles  College,  says 
of  Sierra-Madre  College,  Pasadena,  of  which  Dr.  Healy  was 
president: — "A  liberal  grant  was  made  for  it,  a  good  school 
building  was  erected,  and  the  site  was  admirable;  but  Pasa- 
dena did  not  prove  attractive — it  seemed  impossible  to 
awaken  adequate  enthusiasm.  The  school  numbered  from 
thirty  to  fifty  students.  It  was  started  under  the  leadership 
of  Rev.  J.  W.  Ellis,  D.  D.,  of  San  Francisco.  Shortly  after 
the  college  opened,  the  board  of  trustees  elected  Dr.  Healy, 
who  was  then  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  at  Santa 
Monica,  to  the  presidency,  for  the  influence  of  his  name. 
Dr.  Healy's  health  was  then  very  poor,  and  he  did  not  occupy 
the  office,  nor  change  his  residence,  nor  take  any  active  part 
in  the  college  work.  He  resigned  at  the  end  of  his  year, 
1884-5,  anc*  Prof.  J.  M.  Coyner  presided.  The  doctor  was 
in  no  way  responsible  for  the  college.  It  continued  about 
two  years ;  the  building  is  now  a  private  residence."  Mr. 
Hanna  spoke  very  highly  of  Dr.  Healy's  work  at  Santa 
Monica. 

He  married,  Oct.  8,  1848,  Miss  Jane  Hibbard  Clark,  who 
was  born  in  Groton,  Vt,  May  12,  1830.  She  studied  in  the 
Female  Seminary,  Burlington,  Vt.,  taught  with  her  husband 


JOSEPH   WARREN   HEALY.  51 

at  Bath  and  Topsfield,  and  adorned  the  place  of  a  pastor's 
wife  wherever  he  labored.  She  died  at  her  mother's  home 
in  Corinth,  Vt.,  Sept.  12,  1880,  beloved  and  lamented,  a  pure 
and  gentle  spirit.  Their  children  were  Jane  Corinne,  who 
was  born  March  6,  1850,  and  died  Octobers,  1850;  and 
Frank  Joseph,  who  was  born  March  4,  1857;  studied  at 
Olivet  College  and  London  (England)  University;  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  1878;  was  editor  of  the  Gazette,  Fort 
Wayne,  Ind.,  till  1884 ;  and  is  now  on  the  editorial  staff  of  the 
Tribune,  Cleveland,  O. 

His  second  wife  was  Mrs.  Ellen  R.  White,  widow  of  W.  M. 
White,  a  merchant  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  who  died  there  of 
consumption.  She  was  Miss  Young,  born  in  Bangor,  Me., 
Feb.  2,  1833.  She  became  Mrs.  Healy  July  21,  1884,  while 
he  was  preaching  in  Santa  Monica.  She  has  built  her  a 
home  at  Riverside,  CaL,  but  will  spend  her  summers  at  San 
Diego. 

Mr.  Healy  preached  about  three  years  in  Woodland,  and 
Oakland,  before  visiting  southern  California.  He  was  pastor 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Santa  Monica,  three  years.  He 
never  recovered  from  the  prostration  following  his  first  wife's 
death.  He  loved  life  and  labor,  and  when  driven  by  ill  health 
from  one  field,  he  sought  another  field  immediately  upon 
recuperation.  As  a  last  resort,  when  he  could  no  longer 
stand  to  preach,  in  the  fall  of  1886,  he  sought  a  change  of 
air  and  began  to  practise  medicine  in  San  Diego.  He  died 
of  spinal  abscess,  April  26,  1887,  and  was  buried  at  San 
Diego,  under  imposing  and  solemn  rites  by  Masons  and  Odd 
Fellows.  He  was  paralyzed  and  speechless  for  20  hours,  a 
patient  sufferer.  Dr.  Healy  was  an  exemplary  man — one  of 
nature's  noblemen.  He  arose  by  his  own  exertions,  and 
achieved  a  grand  success.  His  titles  are  emblems  of  his 
character  and  attainments. 

The  Congregational  Year  Book  says: — "Mr.  Henry  Jack- 
son Richardson  was  born  in  Middleton,  Mass.,  June  23,  1829, 
to  Daniel  and  Olive  Berry  (Perkins)  Richardson.  He  fitted 
for  college  at  Phillips  Academy,  and  graduated  at  Amherst, 
in  1855,  and  at  Andover  Theological  Seminary,  in  1859; 
taught  in  the  Topsfield  Academy,  1855-6,  was  ordained  at 
Lincoln,  Mass.,  Sept.  6,  1860;  and  was  released  from  active 


52  THE   TOPSFIELD    ACADEMY. 

pastoral  charge,  May  10,  1892.  He  married,  June  26,  1864, 
Mrs.  Harriet  Amelia,  widow  of  Theodore  French,  of  Con- 
cord, N.  H.,  and  daughter  of  Dea.  William  and  Abby  (Reed) 
Colburn,  of  Lincoln.  He  died  of  la  grippe,  Dec.  19,  1893." 

Rev.  Alpheus  Justus  Pike,  who  was  assistant  to  Profs. 
Healy  and  Allis,  was  born  in  Topsfield,  March  7,  1828.  His 
father  was  a  farmer  and  cultivated  broad  fields  and  rich  soil. 
He  was  educated  at  Thetford  Academy,  Vt.,  and  at  Dart- 
mouth College,  graduating  in  1855.  He  studied  theology  at 
Andover,  Mass.,  and  at  East  Windsor,  now  Hartford,  Conn. 
He  was  ordained  and  installed  at  Marlboro,  Conn.,  and  after- 
wards had  successive  charge  of  churches  in  Sank  Centre, 
Minn.,  and  Mandan  and  Dawson,  Dak.  He  has  also  labored 
for  the  American  Missionary  Association  both  in  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain.  He  is  now  located  at  Dwight, 
Dakota. 

Mrs.  Morgan  says: — "Our  respected  teacher  and  townsman 
A.  J.  Pike,  A.  B.,  afterwards  a  minister,  is  well  remembered. 
He  was  a  most  thorough  scholar;  he  always  carried  the  text 
books  closed  in  his  hand  without  the  slightest  thought  of  re- 
ferring to  them.  In  the  clear,  autumn  evenings,  he  would 
take  the  class  out  on  the  hills  and  point  out  the  different  con- 
stellations, making  our  lessons  in  astronomy  of  practical 
value." 

Prof.  B.  Robert  Downes,  Bradford,  was  a  teacher  of  music 
during  Prof.  Healy's  principalship  and  those  who  followed. 
His  only  business  was  teaching  music,  chiefly,  it  is  under- 
stood, instrumental.  He  was  always  busy — '4have  all  I  can 
do,"  as  he  once  remarked.  Here  Mrs.  Morgan  remarks  :  — 
"I  must  not  forget  Professor  of  music,  B.  R.  Downes.  Can 
we  not  see  him  passing  from  home  to  home  of  his  pupils, 
swinging  his  cane  in  the  air,  ready  to  fall  in  repeated  blows 
on  reaching  the  door,  then  taking  quiet  little  naps  while  the 
lessons  were  thrummed,  always  good-natured  and  happy." 


CHAPTER   V. 

OBEDIAH   DICKINSON  ALLIS,   ALBERT   IRA   DUTTON, 
AND   THE    LAST   DAYS    OF  THE    ACADEMY. 


Prof.  O.  D.  Allis,  A.  M.,  began  here  with  the  winter  term 
of  1856-7,  and  closed  his  services  with  the  fall  term  of  1858. 
He  continued  the  school  in  relation  to  the  course  of  study, 
terms  and  tuition,  as  these  had  been  adopted  by  Mr.  Healy. 
The  character  of  the  school  was  fully  sustained.  A.  J.  Pike, 
A.  B.,  assisted  him  in  the  winter  term  ;  Austin  Hazen,  A.  B., 
in  the  spring  term ;  L.  T.  Burbank,  A.  B.,  of  Williams  Col- 
lege, thereafter.  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Jones  was  preceptress,  Miss 
C.  M.  Thurston  was  assistant.  Prof.  B.  R.  Downes,  jr., 
taught  piano  music ;  G.  LeR.  Gleason,  vocal  music ;  and 
Daniel  T.  Ames,  penmanship. 

Three  rhetorical  programs  have  been  loaned  me.  May  6, 
1857,  has  the  following  orations: — Every  man  a  debtor  to 
his  profession,  by  George  L.  Blanchard  ;  Influence  of  Wash- 
ington, by  M.  V.  B.  Perley ;  The  present  crisis  of  our  coun- 
try, by  D.  F.  Towne  ;  Athens,  by  S.  A.  Merriam  ;  The  schol- 
ar's hope,  by  J.  G.  Colt;  The  mind  measured  by  its  object, 
by  G.  E.  Joslin ;  Decay  an  element  of  growth,  by  D.  T. 
Ames ;  The  influence  of  the  age  in  producing  great  men,  by 
G.  LeR.  Gleason ;  Eloquence  of  decay,  by  N.  T.  Kimball ; 
Israel  Putnam,  by  S.  P.  Fowler.  Compositions  were  read  by 
Misses  L.  Burbank,  S.  A.  Chamberlain,  H.  McLoud,  M.  A. 
Hoyt,  H.  A.  Wells,  E.  A.  R.  Towne,  E.  A.  Putnam,  H.  M. 
Kimball,  M.  M.  Farrar,  C.  F.  Kimball,  M.  A.  Dickinson,  R. 
P.  Perley,  C.  A.  Perkins,  C.  E.  Batchelder,  and  A.  Rogers. 

The  rhetorical  exercises,  Nov.  n,  185  7,  were: — Orations — 
Ambition  essential  to  great  achievements,  by  Geo.  F.  Flint; 
Responsibility  of  Americans,  by  J.  C.  Leonard  ;  The  Press,  by 
N.  D.  Dodge ;  The  condition  and  prospects  of  America,  by 

(53) 


54  THE   TOPSFIELD     ACADEMY. 

C.  A.  Mooar;  Arnold,  the  traitor,  by  M.  H.  Dorman  ;  John 
Q.  Adams,  by  J.  W.  Porter;  Dr.  Kane,  by  C.  Fowler;  Rev- 
olutions, by  J.  K.  Cole  ;  Earth's  benefactors,  by  M.  V.  B.  Per- 
ley;  Earth's  malefactors,  by  Geo.  L.  Blanchard  ;  Skepticism, 
by  D.  T.  Ames.  The  following  had  compositions  : — Misses 
S.  A.  Chamberlin,  J.  K.  Noyes,  S.  M.  Ray,  M.  M.  Thomp- 
son, M.  A.  Hoyt,  H.  E.  Peabody,  C.  A.  Berry,  C.  C.  Pea- 
body,  M.  E.  Choate,  R.  P.  Balch,  R.  P.  Perley,  E.  B.  Perley, 
A.  P.  Kimball,  C.  W.  Woodbury.  The  program  concluded 
with  a  colloquy,  "Home  Government,"  written  by  the  stu- 
dents— Misses  M.  Low,  L.  D.  Hardy  and  M.  A.  C.  Noyes. 

The  rhetorical  program  of  Nov.  10,  1858,  was: — Declama- 
tion, by  Hamilton  Temple  ;  Orations — Dr.  Livingstone,  by 
A.  M.  Merriam  ;  Object  of  our  mission,  by  J.  W.  Perkins; 
The  power  of  knowledge,  by  N.  D.  Dodge,  jr. ;  Enthusiasm, 
by  C.  A.  Mooar;  Jephtha's  daughter,  by  Geo.  F.  Flint;  The 
nobility  and  responsibility  of  the  teacher's  vocation,  by  J.  K. 
Cole;  Reform,  by  Clarence  Fowler;  Moral  force  the  only 
instrument  of  freedom,  by  M.  V.  B.  Perley ;  Young  America, 
by  H.  G.  Rollins;  and  the  reading  of  the  school  paper,  "The 
Laural  Wreath"  by  Misses  Abbie  R.  Cole  and  Rebecca  K. 
Bixby,  Clarence  Fowler,  editor. 

These  exercises  were  always  interspersed  with  music,  gen- 
erally by  a  hired  orchestra,  sometimes  by  the  school  talent. 

Prof.  Allis  came  to  Topsfield  with  an  experience  of  some 
seven  or  eight  years.  He  was  a  good  teacher  and  disciplin- 
arian. His  want  of  health  was  the  only  impediment  to  good 
rank  among  noted  teachers.  He  was  tall  and  slim  ;  his  con- 
figuration and  movements  betokened  insidious  disease.  He 
had  a  deep  voice  and  was  an  excellent  bass  singer.  His 
voice  was  cultured  and  he  excelled  as  a  reader.  He  was  a 
good  scholar,  critical  in  the  recitation  and  apt  in  his 
illustrations.  His  manner  was  pleasing;  his  conversation, 
entertaining;  his  social  life,  unblamable ;  and  remembrance 
of  him  is  pleasant  indeed. 

Mr.  Allis  was  born  in  Brookfield,  Vt.July  27, 1825, to  Elisha 
and  Mary  (Steele)  Allis.  While  at  home  he  attended  the  dis- 
trict school  and  the  academy  at  Randolph.  His  preparation 
for  college  was  completed  at  Thetford  Academy.  He  en- 
tered Williams  College,  and  during  this  second  year  re- 


OBEDIAH    D.    ALLIS.  55 

turned  home  sick,  where  he  remained  an  invalid  for  a  year. 
He  received  the  honorary  degree  of  A.  M.,  from  the  Univer- 
sity of  Vermont.  He  taught  a  year  in  Barre  Academy, 
under  J.  S.  Spaulding;  then  at  Vergennes  some  two  or  three 
years.  While  at  Vergennes  he  married  Miss  Ann  Eliza  Colt, 
of  Brookfield.  Subsequently  he  taught  at  Chelsea  perhaps 
four  or  five  years ;  then  at  Topsfield.  From  here  he  went 
to  Randolph  Centre,  Vt,  where  he  preached  three  or  four 
years ;  thence  to  West  Randolph  where  he  preached  about 
five  years.  The  state  of  his  health  was  to  him,  all  the  while, 
a  source  of  anxiety  and  expense,  and  an  impediment  in  his 
work.  At  last  his  active  life  closed;  in  1866  he  repaired  to 
Danielsonville,  N.  Y.,  for  treatment  at  that  noted  water-cure. 
He  died  there  in  June,  1867,  nearly  forty-two  years  old.  His 
disease  was  chronic  rheumatism,  culminating  in  congestion 
of  the  lungs.  He  was  buried  in  West  Randolph.  Thus  per- 
ished an  active  life,  a  generous  heart,  a  noble  purpose,  a 
Christian  man. 

The  Lyceum,  so  popular  with  Principal  Conant's  and 
Principal  Healy's  schools,  was  fully  sustained  during  Mr. 
Allis'  principalship.  Citizens  participated  in  and  enjoyed 
the  occasions.  The  students  regarded  it  a  part  of  their 
school  life,  and  prepared  for  it,  in  the  main,  as  for  a  recita- 
tion, or  the  weekly  rhetorical  exercises. 

The  first  Lyceum  of  which  we  have  any  record  was  organ- 
ized on  Dec.  24,  1856.  The  members  were  J.  Brown, 
J.  Pike,  A.  M.  Trask,  E.  W.  Pert,  A.  E.  Baker,  T.  F.  Towne, 
J.  E.  Leonard,  M.  H.  Dorman,  M.  V.  B.  Perley,  C.  M.  Boyd, 
J.  W.  Porter,  J.  G.  Colt,  Geo.  L.  Blanchard,  A.  D.  Pearson, 
W.  T.  McQuestion  and  James  Ingalls. 

Prof.  Allis,  principal  of  the  school  called  the  meeting  to 
order.  Towne  was  voted  president,  pro  tern. ;  Colt,  secre- 
tary, pro  tern.  Brown,  Blanchard,  Dorman,  committee  to 
draft  constitution  and  by-laws.  Dec.  31.  Blanchard  was 
voted  president,  pro  tern. ;  Colt  secretary,  pro  tern. ;  con- 
stitution and  by-laws  adopted.  The  former  authorized  pri- 
marious,  president,  vice-president,  secretary;  the  latter,  this 
order  of  business:  reading  minutes  of  last  meeting,  declama- 
tions, discussions,  miscellaneous  business,  reading  of  school- 
paper,  appointment  of  editors,  readers,  and  judges  of  dis- 
cussions as  to  force  of  argument. 


56  THE  TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

The  principal  was  primarius  and  embodied  all  final  author- 
ity. Teachers  were  ex-officio  members,  and  lady-students 
at  their  option.  Male  members  signed  constitution  and  by- 
laws and  paid  the  bills,  (perhaps  25  cents  per  term.)  Jan. 
7,  1857.  Blanchard  and  Colt  were  voted  again  pro  tern. 
Constitutional  officers  by  ballot:  Boyd,  president;  M.  V.  B. 
Perley,  vice-president ;  Colt,  secretary.  Boyd  and  Joslin, 
affirmative,  and  Towne  and  Colt,  negative,  discussed  "Is  a 
nation  justified  in  rising  against  its  rulers?"  and  the  judges 
gave  the  better  argument  to  the  affirmative.  Jan.  14.  Brown 
and  Towne,  affirmative,  and  Blanchard  and  Leonard,  nega- 
tive, discussed  "Does  wealth  exert  a  greater  influence  than 
education?"  which  was  decided  in  the  affirmative.  Jan.  28. 
Towne  and  Joslin,  affirmative,  and  A.  D.  Pearson  and  J.  E. 
Pike,  negative :  "Are  railroads  an  advantage  or  disadvant- 
age to  a  country?"  The  affirmative  won. 

Spring  term,  1857.  March  n.  Members  :  D.  T.  Ames,  G. 
A.  Ames,  J.  C.  Colt,  J.  W.  Porter,  G.  L.  Blanchard,  S.  P. 
Fowler,  jr.,  C.  M.  Boyd,  A.  D.  Pearson,  G.  E.  Joslin,  S.  A. 
Merriam,  N.  T.  Kimball,  M.  V.  B.  Perley.  D.  T.  Ames  was 
voted  president;  S.  P.  Fowler,  jr.,  vice-president;  G.  E.  Jos- 
lin, secretary.  Pearson  declaimed.  Kimball  and  Fowler, 
affirmative,  and  Porter  and  Perley,  negative  :  "Resolved,  that 
the  mariner's  compass  has  been  more  beneficial  to  man  than 
the  printing  press."  Negative  won.  March  1 6.  Blanchard 
and  Perley  declaimed.  Fowler  and  Boyd,  affirmative,  and 
Gleason  and  Colt,  negative  :  "Is  a  man  the  arbiter  of  his  own 
fortune?"  Affirmative  won.  Misses  Batchelder  and  Perley 
read  "The  Iris,"  A.  D.  Pearson,  editor.  March  23.  Colt  and 
Gleason  declaimed.  Porter  and  Joslin,  affirmative,  and  G. 
A.  Ames  and  Towne,  negative :  "Was  Washington  a  greater 
man  than  Columbus?"  Affirmative  won.  March  30.  Pear- 
son declaimed.  Blanchard  and  D.  T.  Ames,  affirmative,  and 
Merriam  and  Gleason,  negative :  "Should  non-intervention 
be  the  policy  of  the  U.  S.?"  Affirmative  prevailed.  Misses 
Thurston  and  Rogers  read  "The  Iris,"  G.  A.  Ames,  editor. 
April  6.  Perley  and  Joslin  declaimed.  Fowler  and  Towne, 
affirmative,  and  Kimball  and  Porter,  negative :  "Should  the 
sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  be  prohibited  by  law?"  April 
13.  G.  A.  Ames  and  Gleason,  affirmative,  and  H.  O.  Wiley, 


THE   SCHOOL    LYCEUM.  57 

negative:  "Is  the  progress  of  the  present  age  greater  than 
that  of  past  ages?"  Affirmative  won.  Misses  E.  F.  and  H. 
M.  Kimball  read  "The  Iris,"  Gleason,  editor.  April  20. 
Kimball  and  Porter,  affirmative,  and  Joslin  and  Towne,  nega- 
tive:  "Is  ambition  the  cause  of  more  good  than  evil?" 
Misses  Chamberlain  and  Farrar  read  "The  Iris."  April  27. 
Fowler  and  Long  declaimed.  Porter  and  Kimball,  affirma- 
tive, and  Gleason  and  D.  T.  Ames,  negative:  "Is  a  republi- 
can form  of  government  more  stable  than  a  monarchial  one?" 
Misses  Wells  and  Towne  read  "The  Iris,"  Perley,  editor. 

Winter  term,  1857-8.  Dec.  3.  Members:  J.  W.  Porter, 
D.  F.  Towne,. M.  H.  Dorman,  W.  L.  Putnam,  G.  H.  Peabody, 
A.  F.  Smith,  A.  A.  Fowler,  C.  W.  Peart,  J.  N.  Smith,  S.  T. 
J.  Byam,  L.  W.  Green,  W.  S.  Merrill,  B.  A.  Shute,  P.  S. 
Farnsworth,  J.  A.  Friend,  G.  D.  Richards,  C.  Porter,  J.  R. 
Jackson,  Jos.  Ridgway,  E.  F.  Esty,  H.  Temple,  M.  A.  Kent, 
L.  L.  Robbins,  E.  F.  Creesy,  A.  M.  Merriam,  H.  L.  Long,  J. 
H.  Towne,  S.  Fuller,  J.  C.  Bancroft,  D.  G.  Upton,  N.  A.  Pike, 
J.  Swinerton,  W.  H.  Preston,  W.  P.  Hutchinson,  S.  Noyes. 
J.  W.  Porter  was  voted  president,  pro  tern. ;  Dorman,  secre- 
tary, pro  tern. ;  Dorman,  D.  F.  Towne,  W.  L.  Putnam,  a 
committee  on  constitution  and  by-laws.  Dec.  9,  constitution 
and  by-laws  were  adopted.  J.  W.  Porter  was  voted  presi- 
dent; D.  F.  Towne,  vice-president;  M.  H.  Dorman,  secre- 
tary. Dec.  1 6.  Dorman  and  Shute  declaimed.  Putnam 
and  Green,  affirmative,  and  Dorman  and  Noyes,  negative : 
"Is  a  skillful  politician  better  fitted  for  a  president  of  the  U.  S. 
than  a  skillful  general?"  Affirmative  was  victor.  Dec.  23. 
Jackson  and  J.  W.  Porter  declaimed.  J.  W.  Porter  and  Farns- 
worth, affirmative,  and  Ridgway  and  Peabody,  negative:  "Is 
the  fear  of  punishment  a  greater  incentive  to  exertion  than  the 
hope  of  reward?"  Valorous,  affirmative!  Misses  Peabody 
and  A.  P.  Kimball  read  "The  Iris,"  Dorman,  editor.  Dec. 
30.  Town  and  Shute  declaimed.  W.  L.  Putnam  and  Robbins, 
affirmative,  and  Noyes  and  Jackson,  negative :  "Does  the 
constitution  of  these  U.  S.  conflict  with  American  slavery?" 
Valorous,  negative !  Jan.  6.  Farnsworth  and  Dorman  de- 
claimed. S.  Fuller  and  A.  F.  Smith,  affirmative,  and  Dor- 
man and  Ridgway,  negative :  "Is  a  republican  government 
better  to  live  under  than  a  monarchy?"  Negative  won. 


58  THE   TOPSFIELD    ACADEMY. 

Jan.  13,  1858.  Friend,  Putnam,  C.  Porter  declaimed.  Pope 
and  Dorman,  affirmative,  and  D.  F.  Towne  and  W.  L.  Put- 
nam, negative :  "Is  novel  reading  deleterious  to  the  public 
mind?"  Jan.  27.  C.  Porter  and  Putnam  declaimed.  Ridg- 
way  and  Dorman,  affirmative,  and  Swinerton  and  W.  L,  Put- 
nam, negative:  "Is  man  the  arbiter  of  his  own  fortune?" 
Negative  won.  Misses  Woodbury  and  Low  read  "The  Iris," 
Pope,  editor.  Feb.  10.  Farnsworth,  Green,  J.  W.  Porter, 
Temple,  Dorman  declaimed.  Pope  and  C.  Porter,  affirma- 
tive, and  J.  W.  Porter  and  Temple  negative:  "Has  science 
accomplished  more  than  physical  strength?"  Affirmative 
won.  Misses  Thurston  and  E.  F.  Kimball  read  "The  Iris," 
D.  F.  Towne,  editor. 

Spring  term,  1858.     Feb.  22.     Members:   D.  F.  Ames,  C. 

A.  Mooar,  Geo.  L.  Blanchard,  L.  L.  Robbins,  H.   Temple,  J. 
Ridgway,  J.  R.  Jackson,  Asbury  Osgood,  Myron  R.  Hutchin- 
son,  J.  E.  Leonard,  J.  C.  Lavalette,  J.  K.  Cole,  N.  D.  Dodge, 

B.  Alward  Shute,  J.  Wright  Perkins,  S.  Noyes,  M.  V.  B.  Per- 
ley.     D.  T.  Ames  was  voted  moderator,  pro  tem. ;   C.  Fowler, 
secretary,  pro  tem. ;   and  D.  F.  Towne,  Perley,  C.    Fowler,  a 
committee    on    constitution    and    by-laws.     Blanchard    was 
chosen  editor  of  "The  Iris."     J.  K.  Cole  and  J.    E.    Leonard 
were    chosen   president    and    vice-president    for    one    week. 
March  I.     Constitution  and  by-laws  were  adopted.     C.  Fow- 
ler and  Leonard,  affirmative,  and  N.  D.   Dodge   and    Mooar, 
negative:   "Is  the  pen  mightier  than   the  sword?"     Affirma- 
tive won.     Misses  Kimball  and  Towne  read  "The  Iris,"  Blan- 
chard, editor.     Permanent    officers:    Ridgway,   secretary;   J. 
K.  Cole,  president;   G.  L.  Blanchard,  vice-president.     March 
8.     Meech  and    Mooar    declaimed.     Blanchard    and    D.   T. 
Ames,  affirmative,    and    C.    Fowler    and    Jackson,  negative : 
"Which  exerts  the  greater   influence    in    the    world,  man  or 
woman?"     Affirmative  won.     Misses  Noyes  read  "The  Iris." 
March  15.     Blanchard  and    Lavalette    declaimed.     Leonard 
and  D.  T.  Ames,  affirmative,  and  Dodge  and  Cole,  negative: 
"Are  the  works  of  nature  more  admired    than    the    works  of 
art?"     Affirmative  carried  the  argument.     Misses    Cole  and 
Lamson  read  "The  Iris."     March  22.     Leonard  and  Jackson 
declaimed.     Perley   and   Ridgway,  affirmative,  and    Robbins 
and  A.  H.  Meech,  negative :   "Does   wealth    exert  a    greater 


THE   SCHOOL   LYCEUM.  59 

influence  than  education?"  Affirmative  won.  Misses  Gush- 
ing and  Perkins  read  "The  Iris."  March  29.  Temple  and 
Hutchinson  declaimed.  Noyes  and  Mooar,  affirmative,  and 
Lavalette  and  Jackson,  negative :  "Has  the  mariner's  com- 
pass been  of  more  benefit  to  man  than  the  printing-press?" 
Negative  won.  April  5.  J.  W.  Perkins  and  D.  T.  Ames,  af- 
firmative, and  Blanchard  and ,  negative:  "Are  politi- 
cal parties  beneficial  to  a  State?"  Affirmative  conquered. 
"The  Iris"  was  postponed  and  Henry  G.  Rollins,  of.  Grove- 
land,  lectured  on  "The  intelligent  and  enterprising  American." 
April  12.  Perkins  and  Cole  declaimed.  Cole  and  J.  W. 
Porter,  affirmative,  and  Ridgway  and  Leonard,  negative : 
"Was  Wellington  a  greater  man  than  Bonaparte?"  Affirma- 
tive won.  Misses  Adams  and  Ober  read  "The  Iris,"  Cole, 
editor. 

(Several  pages  are  here  missing.) 

Fall  term,  1859.  Sept.  11.  Members:  Hamilton  Temple, 
Bartlett  H.  Weston,  Geo.  E.  Weaver,  J.  Welch  Porter,  Ed- 
ward B.  Putnam,  J.  W.  Perkins,  Wm.  H.  Dalton.  Porter  was 
voted  president;  Temple,  scribe;  Geo.  T.  Welch,  vice-presi- 
dent. Appointments:  Geo.  E.  Warner,  to  declaim;  Per- 
kins, affirmative,  and  Weston,  negative:  "Should  we  obey  a 
law  which  we  think  to  be  morally  wrong?"  Minnie  L.  Put- 
nam and  Hattie  Dorman,  readers,  and  Welch,  editor.  Sept. 
21.  Warner  declaimed;  Perkins  and  Weston  discussed,  and 
"judged  in  the  negative."  Oct.  5.  John  W.  Porter  and  E. 
B.  Putnam  declaimed.  Warner,  affirmative,  and  Welch,  neg- 
ative:  "Is  the  mind  of  woman  inferior  to  that  of  man?" 
Negative  had  the  argument.  Misses  Hattie  Dorman  and 
Minnie  L.  Putnam  read  "The  Topsfield  News,"  Welch,  edi- 
tor. Oct.  12.  Misses  Reed  and  Weston  read  "The  News," 
Flint,  editor.  Edward  E.  Putnam  was  tried  for  and  found 
guilty  of  the  murder  of  Sparticus.  He  was  sentenced  to  be 
hanged  by  the  arms  till  the  rope  broke  "The  execution  oc- 
cupied just  one  second."  Oct.  19.  Misses  Fairfield  and 
Eaton  read  "The  News,"  Perkins,  editor.  Perkins,  affirma- 
tive, and  Porter,  negative:  "Is  the  hope  of  reward  a  greater 
incentive  than  the  fear  of  punishment?"  Nov.  2.  Otis  F. 
Dodge,  affirmative,  and  Geo.  E.  Nichols,  negative:  "Re- 


60  THE  TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

solved,  that  wealth  exerts  a  greater  influence  than  education?" 
Affirmative  won.  Misses  Howe  and  Fairfield  read  "The 
Laural  Wreath,"  J.  W.  Perkins,  editor. 

Spring  term,  1860.  Feb.  29.  Constitution  of  1856  was 
adopted.  J.  Adams  was  chosen  president;  Jos.  P.  Wonson, 
secretary.  March  7.  "An  eloquent  discussion:" — J.  W. 

Perkins,  B.  Weston,  Otis   F.    Dodge,  affirmative,  and 

Gen. Cole,  J.  P.  Wonson,  negative  :  "Resolved,  that  the 

so-called  strikes  now  being  made  by  the  shoemakers  of  sur- 
rounding towns  will  be  a  benefit?"  Otis  F.  Dodge  was 
chosen  president;  John  W.  Perkins,  vice-president ;  Jos.  P. 
Wonson,  secretary. 

Mrs.  Mary  Amanda  Jones,  preceptress,  was  educated  at 
Newbury  Seminary,  Vermont.  She  came  to  this  school  a 
talented  and  finely  educated  teacher.  Her  gentle  manners 
and  kindly  disposition  won  the  respect  of  all,  and  the  love  of 
those  in  her  immediate  care.  She  was  tall,  and  a  lady  of 
commanding  figure,  which,  supplemented  by  her  gentle  man- 
ners, gave  her  a  presence  remarkably  suggestive  of  Virgil's 
"qua  incedo  regina"  She  remained  with  the  school  till  the 
close  of  the  year  1858-9. 

Mrs.  Jones  was  born  in  Sutton,  Vt.,  July  5,  1830,  to  Phoebe 
Fletcher  and  Rev.  Elisha  Brown.  She  married,  Oct.  20,  1852, 
Edwin  Alonzo  Jones,  M.  D.,  and  two  years  later  was  left  a 
widow.  For  twelve  years  thereafter  she  was  engaged  in 
teaching  in  public  schools  and  high-grade  seminaries,  at 
Springfield,  Vt.,  Amenia,  N.  Y.,  Topsfield  and  Auburndale, 
Mass. 

After  leaving  Auburndale,  she  married,  in  Berlin,  Vt., 
July  22,  1866,  Rev.  Rodney  Howland  Howard,  D.  D.,  of  the 
N.  E.  Conference,  and  pastor  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  in  Mon- 
son,  Mass.  She  died  in  Franklin,  Mass.,  April  12,  1892. 

Dr.  Howard  married,  second,  Mrs.  Susan  Cheney  Jones, 
widow  of  Loren  Washburn  Jones,  merchant,  West  Somer- 
ville,  and  daughter  of  Adolphus  and  Susan  (Tenney)  Tenney, 
undertaker  and  dealer  in  furniture,  Windsor,  Vt.  Dr.  How- 
ard died  Jan.  3,  1897. 

Lysander  T.  Burbank  was  an  assistant  to  Mr.  Allis  during 
the  summer  term  of  1857. 

Mr.    Burbank    was    born    in    Fitzwilliam,  N.  H.,  Nov.  24, 


MR.   AND    MRS.    AUSTIN     HAZEN. 


AUSTIN    HAZEN.  6 1 

1828,  to  John  and  Hannah  (Lyon)  Burbank.  His  father 
was  a  farmer.  He  graduated  at  Williams  College,  1857,  and 
at  Union  Theological  Seminary,  New  York  City,  1860.  He 
married  Sarah  Susannah  Van  Vlack  of  New  York  City,  and 
in  July  of  the  same  year  he  sailed  from  Boston  under  ap- 
pointment as  missionaries  of  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.,  to  Turkey, 
on  the  barque  Smyrniote,  for  Smyrna,  laden  with  a  cargo  of 
New  England  rum,  and  missionaries  as  passengers,  arriving  at 
Bitlis  in  Oct.,  1860.  They  gave  up  their  foreign  work  finally 
on  account  of  ill-health,  and  returned  to  America  in  1870. 
The  work  in  Turkey  resulted  in  establishing  several  flourish- 
ing churches  and  schools,  and  in  training  young  men  and 
women  for  teachers  and  preachers,  and  correlative  labor.  He 
says,  "it  was  the  greatest  trial  of  my  life  to  leave  that  blessed 
work."  In  his  preparation  for  the  work  he  attended  a  course 
of  medical  lectures  in  New  York  City,  and  also  dispensary  prac- 
tice, receiving  "A  Certificate  of  Honor,"  conferring  the  title 
of  Dr. 

He  became  pastor  of  a  church  in  Herndon,  Va.,  in  1871  ; 
removing  in  1880  to  Georgetown,  Neb.,  to  become  pastor  of 
the  Burr  Oak  Presbyterian  church.  He  was  there  in  1890. 

They  have  (1890)  six  children  living.  One  reposes  in 
Bitlis,  dying  Jan.,  1864;  another  in  Herndon,  dying  July, 
1874.  Their  oldest,  Frederic  L.,  is  an  M.  D.,  and  practicing 
in  Hooper,  Neb.,  and  the  oldest  daughter,  Mary  S.,  married 
David  Montgomery,  a  graduate  of  Hastings  College  and 
engaged  in  Y.  M.  C.  A.  work,  but  hoping  to  go  a  missionary 
to  China. 

Austin  Hazen,  Prof.  Allis's  assistant,  was  born  in  Hartford, 
Vt.,  Feb.  14,  1835,  to  Rev.  Austin  and  Lucia  (Washburn) 
Hazen.  He  went  with  his  father's  family  to  Berlin,  at  the 
age  of  three  years.  He  fitted  for  college  at  home  and  at  St. 
Johnsbury  Academy,  graduating  at  the  University  of  Ver- 
mont, Burlington,  in  1855.  Taught  one  year  in  Barre  Acad- 
emy, and  graduated  at  the  Theological  Seminary,  Andover, 
Mass.,  in  1859.  During  his  first  year  at  Andover  he  taught  the 
spring  term  of  the  Topsfield  Academy.  Mr.  Allis  was  an 
invalid  and  the  work  of  the  principal  came  mostly  upon  Mr. 
Hazen.  After  graduation,  he  preached  at  Norwich,  Vt., 
from  1859  to  1864;  then  at  Jericho  Centre,  Vt.,  from  1864 


62  THE  TOPSFIELD    ACADEMY. 

to  1884.  He  began  to  preach  also  in  Richmond,  Vt.,  in  1875. 
In  1884,  he  removed  to  Richmond,  where  he  completed  his 
life  work.  He  was  two  years  superintendent  of  schools  in 
Norwich,  and  two  in  Jericho.  His  sickness  was  long  and 
painful,  and  though  accompanied  by  severe  sufferings  caused 
by  repeated  attempts  of  the  surgeons  to  bring  relief,  he 
uttered  no  word  of  complaint.  He  died  May  22,  1895,  while 
on  a  passage  to  Europe,  and  was  buried  at  sea,  in  the  bosom 
of  "old  gray  ocean." 

He  married  Feb.  12,  1862,  Mary  Jane  Carleton,  who  was 
born  in  October,  1840,  to  Mary  Wheeler  and  David  Carle- 
ton,  a  farmer,  of  Barre,  Vt.  She  died  April  18,  1880,  in  Jer- 
icho Centre.  He  married,  2nd,  in  Keeseville,  N.  Y.,  June  I, 
1 88 1,  Almira  Farrington  Elliot,  who  was  born  Feb.  21,  1838, 
to  Eliza  Hall  and  Ezra  Elliot,  a  farmer,  of  Croydon,  N.  H. 

His  first  wife  was  mother  of  all  his  children,  seven  sons 
and  one  daughter,  Mary  Carleton,  who  was  born  July  20, 
1875,  and  died  the  next  January.  The  seven  sons  have 
graduated  in  the  course  in  arts  at  the  University  of  Vermont. 
Four  have  graduated  from  the  Hartford,  Ct.,  Theological 
Seminary  and  are  in  the  Congregational  ministry.  Austin, 
born  Sept.  20,  1863,  who  received  the  seminary  fellowship 
for  two  years'  study  in  Germany,  1893  to  1895;  Carleton, 
born  June  14,  1865  ;  Frank  William,  born  Jan.  7,  1869,  and 
William,  born  Nov.  3,  1870.  Two  are  physicians.  Allen, 
born  May  12,  1867,  a  graduate  of  the  College  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons  of  New  York,  and  Robert,  born  Dec.  2,  1872, 
a  graduate  in  medicine  at  the  University  of  Vermont;  and 
Tracy,  born  July  4,  1874,  will  complete  his  post-graduate 
studies  in  science,  at  Columbia  College,  1899.  This  is  a  re- 
markable family  in  its  obvious  aspect.  The  father  is  work- 
ing now  in  the  field  ready  for  harvest  with  seven-fold  oppor- 
tunity and  power. 

At  college,  his  scholarship  ranked  with  the  best ;  at  the 
seminary,  he  was  one  of  the  best  Hebraists ;  as  a  minister, 
"he  kept  his  science  of  religion  properly  in  the  background, 
but  his  instructions  and  counsels  were  never  inconsistent  with 
the  logical  framework  which  underlay  all  his  thinking;"  as  a 
man,  his  scholarship,  his  utterances,  his  amiableness  and  de- 
meanor were  hardly  noticed  in  their  individuality.  In  this 


CHARLES    MORGAN    PIERCE.  63 

regard  he  was  peculiar;  the  traits  of  his  character  were  most 
happily  blended,  no  one  was  unduly  prominent,  each  seemed 
designed  to  perfect  the  rest;  his  character  was  a  constella- 
tion, like  the  sweet  influence  of  the  Pleiades,  and  cultivated 
friendship,  molded  character,  inculcated  principle,  inspired 
love;  and  because  the  influence  was  all  unconscious  to  giver 
and  receiver,  it  was  the  more  potent.  His  life  though  hum- 
ble was  forceful,  and  though  it  was  circumscribed  in  action, 
it  was  unbounded  in  influence. 

Charles  Morgan  Pierce,  assisted  Mr.  Allis  in  1857-8.  He 
says,  "Mr.  Allis  was  the  principal,  but  owing  to  his  illness  the 
school  for  the  greater  part  of  the  year  was  in  my  hands." 

Mr.  Pierce  was  born  Oct.  18,  1834,  to  Erastus  and  Sophia 
(Morgan)  Pierce,  in  Hinsdale,  Mass.  He  studied  at  Hins- 
dale  Academy  and  graduated  at  Williams  College  in  1857.  He 
taught  in  the  Academy  one  year,  1857-8,  and  by  reason  of 
Mr.  Allis'  feeble  health,  sustained  the  burden  of  the  school. 
He  entered  Andover  Seminary  with  the  junior  class  of  1858, 
and  remained  two  years,  when  he  was  appointed  instructor 
in  mathematics  and  Latin  at  his  Alma  Mater,  a  position  he 
held  two  years.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Berkshire 
Northern  Association,  Oct.  29,  1860.  He  supplied  the  Con- 
gregational Church  in  Peru  six  months  of  1862.  He  beca'me 
a  resident  student  at  Andover,  Oct.,  1862,  and  became  the 
stated  supply  of  the  West  Boxford  church,  where  he  was  or- 
dained and  installed  Sept.  2,  1863.  He  was  dismissed  July 
17,  1867,  and  the  next  September  accepted  the  pro  tempore 
professorship  of  mathematics  in  Williams  College,  which  he 
held  till  April,  1868,  supplying  the  while  the  Congregational 
Church  at  South  Williamstown.  He  was  installed  at  Middle- 
field,  Mass.,  July  I,  1868,  and  resigning  on  account  of  ill- 
health,  was  dismissed  July  26,  1 88 1.  He  was  acting  pastor 
at  Charlton,  from  Aug.  20,  1882,  to  Dec.  6,  1885  ;  was  pastor 
at  Hardwick,  from  Dec.  13,  1885,  to  April  I,  1890,  when  he 
resigned  to  accept  a  pastorate  in  Auburn,  where  he  now 
resides.  He  has  published  two  funeral  discourses,  1864,  1873. 

He  married  in  Salem,  Mass.,  Aug.  12,  1863,  Elizabeth 
Morse  Peabody.  They  have  one  child,  Charles  Peabody, 
born  Oct.  19,  1869,  who  is  now  of  the  class  of  '92  academical 
department,  Yale  University. 


64  THE   TOPSFIELD     ACADEMY. 

The  following  pertinent  comment  is  by  Mrs.  Morgan : 
"Charles  H.  Pierce  taught  a  year  or  more,  as  preceptor. for 
Mr.  Allis,  who  was  in  feeble  health.  Mr.  Pierce  won  the 
esteem  of  all  his  pupils  by  his  uniform  kindness  and  patience. 
He  came  as  an  assistant  and  rather  shrank  from  full  charge 
of  the  school,  which  the  Principal's  illness  made  necessary ; 
still  his  thorough  knowledge  of  all  the  branches  taught,  and 
easy  manners  and  fluent  speaking,  made  him  a  very  popular 
teacher." 

"An  old  friend  of  education"  wrote  thus  of  the  school  for 
the  Salem  Gazette,  in  1857:  — 

TOPSFIELD  ACADEMY. — The  Semi-Annual  Examination 
of  this  successful  Institution,  was  on  Wednesday,  July  I5th. 
The  writer  had  the  pleasure  of  being  present  in  the  afternoon, 
and  was  highly  interested.  The  exercises  commenced  with 
singing  by  the  members  of  the  school,  which  convinced  all 
that  there  was  no  lack  of  musical  talent.  Declamations  were 
then  given  by  J.  H.  Byne,  of  Galveston,  Texas;  M.  V.  B. 
Perley,  of  Ipswich ;  and  A.  D.  Pearson,  of  Topsfield ;  all  of 
whom  did  credit  to  themselves  and  the  school. 

The  Orations,  with  the  subjects,  were  as  follows: — The 
Love  of  Liberty,  George  P.  Flint,  North  Reading;  Strug- 
gles, Jefferson  K.  Cole,  Boxford ;  Death,  Clarence  Fowler, 
Danvers;  Mental  Culture,  Daniel  F.  Ames,  Vershire,  Vt. ; 
Influence  of  Great  Men  on  their  Age,  Henry  G.  Rollins, 
Georgetown.  The  Orations  were  creditable  to  their  writers 
and  the  school.  The  last  one,  by  H.  G.  Rollins,  would  com- 
pare favorably  with  the  best  productions  of  College  gradu- 
ates, and  do  honor  to  many  men  of  high  pretentions.  Next 
came  the  reading  of  the  paper,  published  by  the  school. 
The  Editor,  H.  G.  Rollins,  introduced  Miss  Abbie  Cole,  of. 
Topsfield,  and  Miss  Mary  Cushing,  of  Williamstown,  as  the 
readers,  who  interested  those  present,  for  the  space  of  half 
an  hour,  with  rich  gems  of  thought  and  wit,  causing  many  a 
hearty  laugh. 

We  next  listened  to  the  reading  of  essays  by  the  following 
ladies  of  the  graduating  class: — Cornelia  M.  Thurston,  of 
Vershire,  Vt. ;  Margaret  A.  Hoyt,  Georgetown ;  Charlotte 
A.  Perkins  and  Ellen  F.  Kimball,  of  Topsfield.  The  essays 
were  finely  written  and  very  pleasing.  The  one  by  Miss 


"A    FRIEND   TO    EDUCATION.  65 

Kimball,  on  the  Marriage  of  the  Hemispheres,  was  particu- 
larly good,  being  written  in  an  easy,  natural  style,  and  well 
read. 

At  the  close  of  the  exercises,  Diplomas  were  presented  to 
those  graduating,  with  appropriate  remarks,  by  the  worthy 
and  able  Principal,  O.  D.  Allis,  A.  M. 

Topsfield  Academy  has  a  fine  location,  and  we  were  happy 
to  find  the  school  in  such  a  flourishing  condition.  Although 
we  were  told  by  the  Principal  that  the  past  term  had  not 
been  so  fully  attended  as  previous  terms,  yet  the  school  was 
in  a  healthy  and  promising  state,  and  as  long  as  its  present 
Board  of  Teachers  remain,  we  have  high  hopes  of  its  success. 

"A  friend  to  education"  chronicled  the  following  of  the 
Academy  in  Nov.,  1858: — It  was  our  good  fortune,  two  days 
last  week,  to  attend  the  quarterly  examination  of  the  Tops- 
field  Academy,  and  it  was  very  pleasant  for  us  to  witness  the 
appearance  of  success,  which  crowned  the  labor  of  the  teach- 
ers and  students.  The  degree  of  proficiency  exhibited  by  the 
classes  in  Greek,  Latin  and  French,  was  highly  creditable, 
but  the  rhetorical  Exercise,  which  was  during  the  afternoon 
of  Wednesday,  was  particularly  interesting.  The  exercise 
consisted  of  Orations  from  a  large  part  of  the  gentlemen, 
and  the  reading  of  the  Laurel  Wreath,  a  literary  journal 
consisting  mostly  of  compositions  from  the  ladies  of  the  In- 
stitution. The  order  of  the  exercises  was  as  follows:  — 

Orations  were  delivered  by  A.  M.  Merriam,  subject,  "Dr. 
Livingstone;"  J.  W.  Perkins,  subject,  "Objects  of  our  Mis- 
sion;" N.  D.  Dodge,  Jr.,  subject,  "The  Power  of  Knowl- 
edge;" C.  A.  Mooar,  subject,  "Enthusiasm ;"  G.  F.  Flint, 
subject,  "Jephtha's  Daughter;"  J.  K.  Cole,  subject,  "The 
Nobility  and  Responsibility  of  the  Teacher's  Vocation;" 
Clarence  Fowler,  subject,  "Reform;"  M.  V.  B.  Perley,  sub- 
ject, "Moral  Force  the  only  Instrument  of  Freedom  ;"  H.  G. 
Rollins,  subject,  "Young  America."  Music,  of  a  high  order, 
was  listened  to,  consisting  of  pieces  sung  by  a  select  choir, 
between  the  delivery  of  the  Orations.  After  the  speaking, 
the  "Laurel  Wreath,"  edited  by  Clarence  Fowler,  was  read 
by  the  Editresses,  Miss  Abbie  R.  Cole,  and  Miss  Rebecca 
K.  Bixby.  The  contributions  to  the  paper  displayed  marked 
talent,  and  were  highly  creditable  to  the  ladies.  The  style 


66  THE   TOPSFIELD    ACADEMY. 

in  which  the  orations  were  written,  and  delivered,  showed 
that  the  gentlemen  had  talent,  which  might  be  profitably 
cultivated.  The  one  entitled  "Jephtha's  Daughter,"  was 
spoken  in  such  a  manner,  that  we  could  almost  seem  to  see 
the  Maiden  kneeling  before  the  Chief  of  Israel,  to  receive 
her  death-blow ;  and  another  entitled,  "The  Nobility  and 
Responsibility  of  the  Teacher's  Vocation,"  contained  thoughts 
which  all  teachers  might  well  think  of.  The  oration  of  Mr. 
Perley  displayed  much  "Moral  Force,"  both  in  diction,  and 
delivery,  and  that  of  Mr.  Rollins,  reminded  us  forcibly  that 
"Young  America"  had  honorably  exerted  himself,  in 
thought  and  speech. 

We  regret  to  learn  that  the  highly-esteemed  Principal,  Mr. 
Allis,  and  the  Preceptress,  Miss  Brooks,  an  inestimable 
teacher,  are  called  to  another  field  of  action.  We  under- 
stand that  Mr.  A.  I.  Button,  an  experienced  teacher,  is  to 
take  charge  of  the  Academy,  in  the  place  of  Mr.  Allis.  We 
recommend  all  who  take  an  interest  in  institutions  of  the 
kind,  to  patronize  Mr.  Dutton,  who  appears  a  stranger  in 
Topsfield,  and  a  laborer  in  the  noblest  of  all  causes,  the  Im- 
provement of  the  Mind. 

ALBERT    IRA   DUTTON. 

Prof.  A.  I.  Dutton  followed  Principal  Allis.  He  began  with 
the  winter  term  of  1858-9,  and  taught  five  consecutive 
terms.  During  his  first  year  he  had  one  hundred  and  twen- 
ty-one students,  with  an  average  per  term  of  forty-nine. 
Mrs.  Mary  A.  Jones  was  his  preceptress  and  Miss  Helen  A. 
Reed,  assistant.  J.  W.  Porter  and  J.  B.  Putnam  were  assist- 
ants the  summer  term  of  1859;  Geo.  F.  Flint  and  Miss  Lu- 
cie  R.  Weston  the  fall  term  of  the  same  year.  Prof.  Downes, 
jr.,  gave  instruction  on  the  piano.  Miss  Sarah  D.  McMillan, 
a  graduate  of  Kimball  Union  Academy,  Meriden,  N.  H.,  and 
an  experienced  teacher,  succeeded  Mrs.  Jones'  resignation, 
at  the  end  of  the  year  1858-9.  About  1860,  commercial 
colleges  began,  and  local  high  schools,  with  their  attractions 
and  advantages,  more  or  less  real.  Georgetown  was  able  to 
appropriate  more  for  the  recognized  ability  of  the  Academy 
principal  than  the  earning  capacity  of  the  Academy  could 
offer,  and  he  left  at  the  end  of  the  winter  term  of  that  year. 


ALBERT    IRA    BUTTON.  6/ 

The  program  of  the  exhibition  at  Union  Hall,  Thursday 
evening,  May  5,  1859,  consisted  of  tableaux,  dialogues,  ora- 
tions, recitations,  an  original  colloquy  and  music.  The  Latin 
Salutatory  (Gratis  Salutoria)  was  pronounced  by  Arthur  M. 
Merriam,  and  the  valedictory,  a  poem,  by  M.  B.  V.  Perley. 
These  orations  were  given :  Energy,  Earnestness  and  Perse- 
verance, by  N.  D.  Dodge,  jr. ;  Foresight,  by  John  W.  Per- 
kins;  The  Spirit  of  Freedom,  by  B.  H.  Weston.  The  reci- 
tations :  The  Gambler's  Wife,  by  Carrie  E.  Batchelder,  and 
The  Lay  of  the  Madman,  by  J.  B.  Putnam.  There  were  six 
dialogues.  The  colloquy  was  original  and  written  by  the 
Preceptress,  Miss  Helen  A.  Reed. 

This  exhibition  was  among  the  most  attractive  known  in 
the  history  of  the  school.  The  hall  was  crowded  ;  the  pre- 
sentations were  most  pleasing ;  everybody  was  more  than 
gratified ;  and  immediately  following  the  conclusion,  a  mo- 
tion came  from  the  audience,  that  the  program  be  repeated 
the  following  evening,  which  was  unanimously  voted. 

Mr.  Button  was  born  in  Stowe,  Vt.,  Aug.  5,  1831,  to  Ira 
and  Emeline  (Button)  Button,  a  farmer.  He  graduated  at 
Middlebury  College,  1858,  and  taught  that  fall  in  North  Troy, 
Vt.  His  next  field  was  at  Topsfield,  then  a  year  at  George- 
town. He  studied  a  year  or  more  at  Hartford,  Ct.,  and  com- 
pleted his  divinity  course  at  Andover,  where  he  graduated, 
1863.  That  year  he  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of 
the  Congregational  church  at  Shirley,  Mass.  He  remained 
there  six  years,  till  1869.  In  the  latter  year  he  was  installed 
at  East  Longmeadow,  Mass..  where  he  served  till  July,  1885. 
He  then  visited  the  west,  for  his  health,  and  previous  to  Oct. 
i,  1885,  preached  in  Marshall,  Minn.  He  began  preaching 
in  Royalton,  Vt.,  in  Oct.,  1885,  and  in  Sept.,  1886,  was  in- 
stalled pastor.  In  1887,  he  received  a  carriage  accident  ow- 
ing to  which  he  was  unable  to  preach,  and  Oct.  I,  retired 
from  the  pastorate  to  become  superintendent  of  the  Home  for 
Aged  and  Bisabled  Ministers,  at  South  Framingham,  Mass. 
He  was  several  years  a  Trustee  of  Monson  Academy. 

In  1880  he  sustained  a  severe  accident  by  being  run  over 
by  a  loaded  team.  From  this  he  never  fully  recovered.  He 
was  unable,  for  a  long  time,  fully  to  attend  to  the  duties  of 
his  pastorate.  But  for  five  years  he  remained  with  his  par- 


68  THE  TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

ish,  ''accomplishing  some  of  his  best  work  and  bringing  a 
goodly  number  into  the  church."  The  last  accident  unfitted 
him  for  parochial  duties,  and  he  accepted  a  call  to  superin- 
tend the  Minister's  Home.  He  had  been  there  three  years 
when  the  Home  was  discontinued.  Mr.  Button,  however, 
continued  to  reside  in  the  place,  and  during  the  time  had 
several  calls  to  pastorates  ;  but  for  want  of  health  felt  obliged 
to  decline  them.  He  was  building  a  residence  for  himself 
and  family  at  the  time  of  his  death.  His  last  sickness  was 
only  of  fifty-eight  hours  duration.  He  preached  for  his  son, 
the  Sunday  before,  in  Ashland.  He  passed  away  very  sud- 
denly, in  his  sleep,  of  heart-failure,  a  result  of  la  grippe,  Feb. 
13,  1892. 

Mr.  Dutton's  wife  was  Miss  Helen  A.bby  Reed,  his  assistant 
in  the  school  at  Topsfield.  She  was  born  May  6,  1838,  to 
Jacob  Whittemore,  a  lawyer,  and  Ruhannah  Burbank  (Ten- 
ney)  Reed,  of  Groveland.  Their  marriage  was  at  Groveland, 
Oct.  29,  1863.  Their  children  were  born:  Charles  Henry, 
Jan.  26,  1865  ;  Emily  Helen,  Sept.  29,  1869;  Mary  Almira, 
Oct.  31,  1871,  and  died  aged  one  year,  five  months;  Albert 
Ira,  Sept.  4,  1877.  Charles  is  a  graduate  of  Amherst  and 
pastor  in  Wilton,  N.  H.  Emily  graduated  at  Mt.  Holyoke 
College,  took  her  master's  degree  at  Radcliffe  College,  Cam- 
bridge, and  is  instructor  in  Latin  at  Vassar  College. 

Mrs.  Morgan  thus  concludes  a  very  interesting  reminis- 
cence which  we  have  digested  through  these  pages: — "Very 
few  resident  students  studied  in  school,  all  must  attend  devo- 
tional exercises  in  the  morning,  which  consisted  of  scripture 
reading,  prayer,  and  singing  a  hymn  by  a  select  choir  of  the 
scholars ;  then  pupils  went  to  their  various  homes  for  study, 
returning  at  hours  designated;  discipline  required  the  in- 
coming classes  to  be  promptly  at  hand,  when  the  bell  rang 
at  the  close  of  each  recitation. 

Looking  back  to  those  days  we  can  but  exclaim  'What  an 
excellent  corps  of  teachers  taught  in  the  old  academy!' 
Years  have  passed  since  we  saw  them,  but  their  influence  and 
example  are  still  seen  and  felt  in  the  lives  and  labors  of  those 
they  instructed,  now  scattered  throughout  the  world.  The 
years  have  also  changed  the  old  building;  its  halls  still  echo 
the  tread  of  scholars,  but  not  after  the  old  plan.  The  laugh- 


(  1/NIVERSITY  ) 


MISS    SARAH    DANA   MCMILLAN.  69 

ter  of  merry    children    and  youth  is  heard  on  the  hill,  but  in 
them  we  see  only  the  forms  and  faces  of  other  days." 

MISS    SARAH    DANA   MCMILLAN. 

Miss  McMillan  was  Prof.  Button's  preceptress,  during  his 
last  term.  She  had  graduated  at  Kimball  Union  Academy, 
Meriden,  N.  H.,  and  had  taught  three  years  in  the  Academy 
at  Plattsburgh,  N.  Y.,  and  then  in  the  Pinkerton  Academy, 
Derry,  N.  H.  She  came  to  this  school,  a  lady  of  valuable 
experience,  of  cultured  talents,  and  apt  ability  to  impart  in- 
struction. Her  social  life  and  pleasing  manners  endeared 
her  to  pupils  and  people,  and  after  Mr.  Dutton  left,  she  re- 
mained, at  the  urgent  request  of  friends,  and  taught,  on  her 
own  account,  during  the  following  summer. 

She  was  the  daughter  of  Hon.  Andrew  and  Emily  (Dana) 
McMillan,  born  May  12,  1836,  at  Danville,  Vt.  Her  mother 
was  a  lineal  descendant  of  Gen.  Israel  Putnam.  In  July, 
1865,  she  married  Rev.  E.  G.  Parsons,  pastor  of  the  First, 
now  Central,  Congregational  Church,  of  Derry.  Mr.  Parsons 
was  ten  years  principal  of  Dummer  Academy,  having  his 
election  in  1882.  They  now  reside  in  Derry.  Mrs.  Parsons 
writes  : — "My.  memories  are  most  pleasant  of  the  genial,  hos- 
pitable people,  who  then  were  active  in  church  and  society, 
and  extended  their  kind  ministrations  to  'the  stranger  within 
the  gate'." 


CHAPTER   VI. 

THE  ACADEMY   EDIFICE. 
ITS    LATENT   LIFE  AND   MEED   OF   PRAISE. 


Thus  far  we  have  followed  the  use  of  the  building,  have 
noted  the  principal  teachers  in  their  order,  and  most  of  the 
assistant  principals,  have  recorded  enough  of  their  lives  to 
show  their  enterprise,  their  moral  force,  their  natural  ability 
and  education,  their  citizenship  and  Christian  worth, — and 
it  remains  to  speak  of  the  structure  itself. 

The  property  was  insured  the  years  1828,  1829,  1830,  for 
$1500.  The  years  1831  and  1832  for  $1000.  Jacob  Towne, 
jr.,  was  treasurer,  except  in  1832,  when  R.  A.  Merriam 
served.  The  insurance  was  payable,  in  case  of  loss,  to  Solo- 
mon Wildes,  of  Boston,  mortgagee.  In  1833,  the  insurance 
permitted  the  use  of  the  building  on  Sundays  for  religious 
meetings. 

Solomon  Wildes  and  his  wife,  Ruth  B.,  of  Boston,  trans- 
ferred all  their  right,  title  and  interest  in  the  property,  June 
10, 1 846,  for  the  amount  of  the  first  insurance, $1500,  to  Samuel 
Rea,  of  Portsmouth.  These  men  were  landlords.  The  form- 
er was  located  on  Elm  street,  and  the  place  was  long  known 
as  "Wildes'  Hotel."  Mr.  Wildes'  interest  included  eighty- 
eight  undivided  hundredth  parts ;  the  remaining  twelve  un- 
divided hundredth  parts,  belonging  to  Susan  Cummings,  of 
Topsfield,  and  Frederick  Perley  of  Danvers,  were  not  con- 
veyed. 

Samuel  Rea  and  his  wife  Sarah  A.  C.,  of  Portsmouth,  sold 
their  interest  in  the  property  for  $800,  by  deed  dated  Oct. 
15,  1846,  to  the  persons  named  in  the  following  schedule: 
A.  S.  Peabody,  ten  shares;  Robert  S.  Perkins,  four;  J. 
P.  Towne,  two  ;  Mary  Towne,  three  ;  Abigail  Perkins,  two  ; 
Thomas  L.  Lane,  two;  Hannah  Perkins,  one;  Isaac  N. 

(70) 


TRANSFERS  OF  THE  PROPERTY.  71 

Averill,  one.  There  were  twenty-five  shares  valued  at  $25 
each,  and  included  the  same  Rea  purchased  of  Wildes. 

To  these  proprietors  Susan  Cummings  quit-claimed  her 
interest  in  the  property  Nov.  16,  1846,  for  $i.  Frederick 
Perley.sold  his  interest  to  the  same  parties  Bee.  15,  1846, 
for  $56.  J.  W.  Healy  purchased  the  property  of  the  propri- 
etors July  22,  1854,  for  $800.  The  signatures  on  the  deed 
to  Healy  are :  Augustine  S.  Peabody,  Robert  S.  Perkins, 
Mary  J.  Perkins,  Isaac  N.  Averill,  Israel  Rea,  John  G.  Hood, 
Thomas  L.  Lane,  J.  P.  Towne,  R.  C.  Towne,  Mary  Towne, 
2d,  Hannah  Perkins  and  Helena  Peabody.  J.  W.  Healy  and 
his  wife  Jane  C.,  of  Gardner,  conveyed  their  interests  Nov. 
23,  1858,  for  $1000,  to  Albert  Ira  Button,  who  was  then 
principal  of  the  school. 

From  A.  I.  Button  the  title  passed  to  Asahel  Huntington, 
clerk  of  courts,  of  Salem,  and  Jacob  W.  Reed,  attorney-at- 
law,  of  Groveland,  and  April  17,  1865,  they  relinquished 
their  claims — Huntington  for  $i  and  Reed  for  $1050,  to  Jer- 
emiah Balch  and  Ephraim  P.  Peabody.  Peabody  sold  to 
Balch,  Jan.  17,  1868,  for  $600,  and  Balch  conveyed  the 
property  to  the  town  of  Topsfield,  March  6,  1868,  for  $1450. 
For  some  time  between  1865  and  8  the  building  was  used  as 
a  dwelling. 

The  town  immediately  converted  the  building  into  a  school- 
house.  The  number  of  scholars  had  increased  beyond  the 
capacity  of  the  modest  structure  on  the  common,  and  the 
"Topsfield  Academy"  became  the  "Centre  school-house  of 
Topsfield." 

The  mission  of  this  property,  dedicated  so  solemnly  on 
May  7,  1828,  by  the  earnest  devotion  of  the  whole  commu- 
nity, in  the  joyous  anticipation  of  long  life  and  eternal  good ; 
the  mission  of  able  and  devoted  teachers  in  helping  supply 
the  world  with  cultured  intellects  and  correct  and  stable  prin- 
ciples could  not  die.  Callimachus  of  ancient  time,  wrote:  — 

"The  good  never  die." 

For  several  years  the  town  had  felt  the  imperative  need  of 
ampler  and  better  accommodations  for  her  scholars.  The 
old  worn  floors  and  doors,  the  palsied  windows  and  wood 
stoves,  afforded  no  security  for  health  and  gave  no  promise 


72  THE  TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

for  comfort  to  the  scholars,  and  the  furniture  and  appoint- 
ments were  inadequate  to  the  needs.  In  the  summer  of 
1889,  all  was  changed;  the  old  institution  as  a  member  of 
America's  unique  and  grand  common  school  system,  took  a 
new  lease  of  life.  The  front  of  the  building  was  changed 
from  the  south  to  the  west ;  the  old  ante-rooms  and  stair- 
ways were  removed ;  and  the  entire  building  as  it  formerly 
stood  made  into  four  school-rooms,  ample  for  forty  or  fifty 
students  each.  Each  room  has  a  cherry-wood  floor,  has  for 
teacher  and  scholars  desks  of  beautiful  Michigan  wood,  has 
large,  fine  wall-slates,  and  has  an  even  hot  water  heat  radiat- 
ing from  the  window  sides  of  the  rooms.  The  front,  now 
upon  the  west,  is  a  portico,  39  feet  wide  and  projecting  from 
the  main  building  14  feet.  Beneath  it  is  the  heater;  within 
it  are  four  ante-rooms  and  the  broad  stairways.  It  is  entered 
from  the  south,  the  north,  and  in  front.  The  ventilation  of 
the  rooms  is  complete.  Too  much  cannot  be  said  in  praise 
of  this  amended  structure.  No  town  of  equal  wealth  in  the 
county  can  boast  or  be  proud  of  a  better  one.  It  may  have 
cost  much,  but  it  is  the  equivalent  of  the  cost,  and  will  con- 
tinue modern  and  adequate  in  all  respects,  a  joy  and  comfort 
to  the  student,  a  conservator  of  health  and  learning,  and  the 
just  pride  of  every  patriotic  citizen,  for  fifteen  or  twenty 
years,  without  additional  cost.  The  building  committee 
were:  S.  D.  Hood,  J.  B.  Poor,  B.  P.  Edwards,  D.  Bradstreet 
and  B.  P.  Pike. 

The  individuality  of  the  Academy  dissolved,  in  1860,  at 
the  age  of  thirty-two  years.  She  had  survived  her  sisters, 
except  the  female  Academies  at  Ipswich  and  Andover — not 
a  survival  of  the  fittest  that  we  know  of,  but  she  was  among 
the  last  survivors  of  a  peerage,  whose  demise  any  community 
may  rightly,  truly  mourn. 

That  she  had  several  attacks  of  "innocuous  desuetude"  is 
no  derogation  from  her  fair  fame  or  noble  worth.  As  well 
question  the  grace  and  force  of  Christianity,  because  there 
were  the  Dark  Ages ;  or  great  Homer's  place  among  poets, 
because 

"*  *  *  Homer's  self  sometimes,  they  say, 
Took  to  his  night-cap  on  the  way." 


THE    PRINCIPALS    OF  THE   ACADEMY.  73 

This  institution  is  to  be  judged  by  what  she  was  and  what 
she  did. 

Her  principal  teachers  were  nineteen  in  number — seven- 
teen gentlemen  and  two  ladies.  Of  the  men,  seven  graduated 
at  Dartmouth,  three  at  Middlebury,  one  at  Bowdoin,  one  at 
Harvard,  one  at  University  of  Vermont  while  four  were  not 
college  graduates.  Of  the  latter,  one  at  the  age  of  ten  years 
was  reading  Greek  in  Dummer  Academy,  and  in  due  time 
received  from  Bowdoin,  unasked,  the  master's  degree  in  re- 
cognition of  his  classical  attainments  and  proficiency  as  a 
professional  teacher;  another  has  given  a  long  life  of  service 
to  school  and  church ;  a  third  with  his  learned  consort 
served  twenty-nine  years  in  the  school- room  and  after  her 
decease  rounded  out  for  himself  a  period  of  forty-five  years 
of  school  work  ;  the  other  bravely  fought  disease  and  labored 
in  school  and  church  till  forty-two  years  of  age. 

Marble  and  Kent  died  at  the  ages  of  thirty-three  and 
thirty-six  years  respectively,  just  entering  upon  their  sphere 
of  robust,  aggressive,  brilliant  manhood.  Of  the  remaining 
fourteen,  eleven  sealed  the  books  of  life  at  the  average  age 
of  seventy-one,  and  three  at  the  average  age  of  seventy-two 
years  are  living.  Long  since  one  of  the  ladies  passed  over 
to  the  great  majority,  and  one  remains.  Of  the  assistant 
principals  and  preceptresses  we  have  sketched  only  seven — 
men  and  women  bred  at  college  and  seminary. 

Mark  this  cluster  of  stars  that  shed  its  salutary  influence 
upon  this  Academy  like  the  sweet  influence  of  the  Pleiades, 
every  Pleiad  like  the  facet  of  some  rare  gem,  attractive  by  its 
own  color,  and  brilliancy  and  beauty.  Not  that  Gods  eter- 
nity of  space  does  not  abound  in  clustered  sweetness  and 
activity:  we  are  speaking  of  our  own — men  and  women  of 
cultivated  talents,  of  aspiring  genius,  of  exalted  character,  of 
great  industry  and  lofty  purpose.  The  achievements  of  their 
lives,  their  extended  fame,  and  titled  names  prove  our  char- 
acterizations true  and  just.  Here  they  gave  the  strength  of 
their  young  maturity,  here  budded  the  promise  of  their  ster- 
ling manhood,  a  noble  ambition  inspired  their  toil,  fidelity 
crowned  it  with  success  and,  though  their  terms  of  service 
were  comparatively  short,  their  names  are  remembered  by 
citizen  and  pupil  alike  with  praise.  Their  individuality  left 


74  THE  TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

its  impress  upon  the  community  like  the  image  and  super- 
scription.of  a  coin,  or  as  the  signet  of  a  king. 

The  course  of  study — now  antiquated — was  arranged,  as 
we  have  said,  for  moral  culture,  mental  discipline  and  practi- 
cal life.  Therein,  is  all  of  it.  The  mental  and  moral  facul- 
ties should  be  educated  together.  Eliminate  them  if  you 
please,  but  to  the  extent  of  the  elimination,  the  growth  is 
unnatural.  It  is  easier  to  err  in  matters  moral  than  mental; 
the  error  in  most  instances  is  more  elusive,  and  the  result  is 
a  thousand  times  more  fatal.  In  the  Academy's  classical 
course,  the  Greek  Testament  had  a  place  of  influence,  and 
the  English  course  had  its  Watts  on  the  Mind,  its  Christian 
Evidences  and  Moral  Science.  Mr.  Vose  called  his  school 
together  Sunday  mornings  for  religious  instruction.  Moral 
culture  was  a  part  of  the  learning  of  those  days;  our  times 
are  certainly  not  imitators,  nor  on  that  account  more  ex- 
cellent. 

The  mental  discipline  of  the  Academy  was  fundamental ; 
it  taught  the  scholar  to  think  consecutively,  patiently,  criti- 
cally ;  it  taught  him  research — to  follow  sequences  and  de- 
duce conclusions;  it  taught  him  self-reliance  in  matters  of 
judgment  and  descretion — a  desideratum  in  the  citizenship 
of  a  republic — and  fitted  him — yes,  to  follow,  but  more 
especially — to  lead,  and  also  taught  that  patient  labor  is  the 
best  of  life  and  garners  best  results.  The  idea  of  the  plan 
was,  that  the  fewest  studies  adequate  to  the  end  were  best 
suited  to  the  inexperienced  mind  of  youth;  and  it  is  a  serious 
question  with  us,  if  the  professions,  scholarship  and  current 
life  would  not  be  better  served  by  the  old  regime  than  by  the 
brimming  curriculum  of  the  present  time. 

Old  academic  life  had  its  social,  moral  and  literary  atmos- 
phere, the  principal  his  magnetism,  the  scholar  his  ideality. 
These  influences  were  peculiar  to  the  old  academies  and  col- 
leges, and  may  be  emphasized  here,  since  we  know  so  well 
the  impressive  character  of  the  preceptors,  and  have  thereto 
the  testimony  of  their  pupils.  Indeed  we  are  here  today  in 
abeyance  of  their  regal  behest.  These  influences  are  very, 
very  seldom,  if  ever,  found  in  the  public  schools;  they  are, 
however,  among  the  most  important  in  producing  excellence 
in  scholarship  and  character.  A  learned  divine  and  academy 


THE   INFLUENCE   OF  THE   ACADEMY.  75 

trustee,  in  speaking  of  the  personal  character  of  the  Academy 
principal,  said  : — "This  influence  in  many  cases  was  even  more 
than  scholarship,  as  it  had  more  to  do  in  the  building  up  of 
strong,  harmonious,  and  well  developed  manhood."  How 
valuable  then,  is  the  combined  influence  of  magnetism,  ideal- 
ity and  atmosphere  ! 

Nearly  800  names  of  students  of  this  Academy  are  re- 
corded. Ten  principals  issued  no  catalogue.  The  number  of 
ladies  and  gentlemen  who  studied  here  is  safely  estimated  at 
1 200.  A  large  proportion  of  them  taught  while  students, 
and  thus  the  individuality  of  the  Academy  began  to  expand. 
Some  continued  the  teacher's  profession,  some  became  in- 
telligent and  progressive  farmers,  some  entered  business,  in- 
spiring enterprise  and  correcting  methods,  others  became 
skillful  mechanics,  and  many  studied  in  higher  schools  and 
entered  the  professions.  The  old  institution  is  living  today 
in  the  deeds  of  her  children ;  the  leaven  of  her  polemy  is 
working  through  a  thousand  agencies,  building,  molding, 
guiding,  sustaining.  In  biological  language,  she  is  in  happy 
correspondence  with  her  environment,  and  her  life  and  work 
are  everlasting  as  her  environment. 

Cried  an  ancient  philosopher: — "Give  me  where  to  stand 
and  with  my  lever  I  will  move  the  world."  A  problem  in 
Prof.  Greenleaf's  National  Arithmetic,  by  way  of  illustrating 
a  principle,  calculated  the  billions  upon  billions  of  miles 
from  a  given  fulcrum  he  must  stand,  and  the  next  problem 
calculated  the  billions  of  years  he  must  live,  to  move  the 
earth  one  inch. 

Cried  an  ancient  philosopher: — "Give  me  where  to  stand 
and  I  will  move  the  world,"  and  Topsfield  Academy,  by  her 
life  that  was  and  her  life  that  is,  exclaims :  "Stand  where 
thou  art,  and  thou  shalt  indeed  move  the  world,  by  thy  dili- 
gence and  perseverance,  by  thy  integrity  and  ability,  by  thy 
learning  and  culture,  by  thy  sobriety  and  character — thy 
manhood,  by  thy  citizen  service  and  business  enterprise,  thy 
philanthropy  and  devotion  to  thy  God. — Hail !  blessed  poten- 
cy, hail ! 


\ 


MAP    OF    TOPSFIELD. 


1.  Town  Hall. 

2.  Congregational  Church. 

3.  Methodist  Church. 

4.  Parson  Capen's  House. 

5.  Pine  Grove  Cemetery. 

6.  Site  of  Asael  Smith  House. 

7.  Francis  Peabody  s  Grist  Mill. 

8.  Spot  where  lived  Sarah  Wildes,  execut- 

ed as  a  witch,  1692. 

9.  The  Poor  Farm. 

10.  Willow    Tree.     Geographical  Centre  of 

Essex  County. 


11.  Site  of  Turnpike  Hotel. 

12.  The  Topsfield  Academy. 

13.  Cattle  Show  Field. 

14.  Stanwood  Home  for  Children. 

15.  Agricultural  Farm. 

16.  The  Wooden  Bridge. 

17.  The  Stone  Bridge. 

18.  The  Pingree  Mansion  House. 

19.  The  Old  Toll  House. 

20.  The  Growninshield-Peirce  Mansion  House. 

21.  Towne's  Bridge. 

22.  The  Dry  Bridge. 


(76) 


LITERARY    EXERCISES. 


TEACHERS    ANT>    STUDENTS, 

TOPSFIELD    ACADEMY. 

AUGUST    12,    1897. 


ADDRESS  OF  WELCOME. 

JEFFERSON   K.    COLE,    OF   PEABODY,    MASS. 


LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN: — Before  I  begin  my  address  I 
would  like  to  read  you  a  letter  written  by  Professor  George 
W.  Atherton,  President  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  College. 

THE  PENNSYLVANIA  STATE  COLLEGE, 

President's  Office. 

State  College,  Centre  Co.,  Pa. 

MR.  GEORGE  F.  Dow,  Jidy  21,  1897. 

Topsfield,  Mass. 

My  dear  sir: — I  very  much  regret  to  be  compelled  to  give 
up  my  engagement  to  meet  the  old  Academy  students  next 
month.*  At  the  time  I  wrote  you  last  I  had  not  the  slight- 
est idea  that  anything  could  intervene  to  prevent  me  from 
being  with  you ;  but  I  find  myself  obliged  to  go  to  Europe, 
and  shall  therefore  be  out  of  the  country  when  the  Reunion 
is  held. 

*Professor  Atherton  had  accepted  an  invitation  to  deliver  an  address 
at  this  time. 

(77) 


78  THE  TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

The  disappointment  is  a  very  great  one  to  me,  as  I  had 
anticipated  a  renewal  of  associations  which  have  been  among 
the  most  delightful  of  my  life.  My  attendance  at  the  Acad- 
emy was  the  first  step  in  my  effort  to  secure  a  college  edu- 
cation, and,  while  the  associations  then  formed  have  been 
broken  by  long  separation,  it  would  be  an  inexpressible  sat- 
isfaction to  take  again  by  the  hand  those  with  whom  I  spent 
so  many  delightful  hours.  To  the  few  who  will  remember 
me  I  wish  you  would  convey  my  greetings,  and  to  all  my 
sincere  regrets. 

Thanking  you  very  much  for  your  courtesy  in  the  matter, 
I  am 

Faithfully  yours, 

GEO.  W.  ATHERTON. 

And  because  of  Mr.  Atherton's  inability  to  be  here,  and 
the  change  necessary  in  the  program,  I  stand  before  you  at 
this  time  to  bid  you  welcome.  So,  classmates,  schoolmates, 
former  teachers  and  pupils,  as  I  look  into  your  faces  this 
afternoon,  changed  though  they  are  by  the  years  that  have 
passed,  I  see,  I  think,  in  each  one,  a  reflection  of  that  which 
is  in  my  own  heart,  and  I  will  say,  as  so  many  said  this 
morning,  "I  am  glad  to  be  here  today."  I  am  glad  to  be  in 
Topsfield  on  this  most  interesting  and  auspicious  occasion. 

We  may  congratulate  ourselves,  my  friends,  on  the  beau- 
tiful day  that  Providence  has  given  us  for  this  gathering; 
and  as  we  have  come  together,  as  we  have  shaken  the  hands 
of  those  who  were  our  schoolmates  so  many  years  ago,  and 
have  renewed  those  early  acquaintances,  real  joy  has  come 
into  our  hearts,  and  I  feel  that  it  is  a  gathering  of  which 
everyone  present  is  glad  to  be  a  part. 

It  is  my  duty,  as  well  as  my  privilege,  to  extend  to  you, 
as  members  of  the  Academy,  the  welcome  of  those  whose 
interest  and  labors  of  love  have  made  this  coming  together 
a  reality.  In  behalf  of  Mr.  George  Francis  Dow,  to  whom 
perhaps  we  are  most  indebted  for  this  pleasant  occasion,  I 
extend  to  you  a  most  hearty  and  cordial  welcome. 

Associated  with  him  are  the  later  students  of  the  Academy, 
and  the  Historical  society  of  the  town,  and  in  their  behalf  I 
extend  to  you  a  most  cordial  welcome. 


THE   ADDRESS    OF   WELCOME.  79 

And  the  good  old  town,  I  do  not  know  that  we  have  a 
special  or  official  representative  of  the  town  present,  but  I 
am  sure  that  we  have  from  the  citizens,  many  of  whom  we 
remember  with  great  pleasure,  a  most  hearty  welcome. 

We  are  changed,  but  as  I  now  look  into  your  faces,  and 
as  I  have,  during  the  morning,  met  one  and  another  of  my 
old  school  fellows,  after  close  scrutiny,  and  a  long  grasp  of 
the  hand,  I  have  been  able  to  say  "Yes,  I  can  see  the  old 
familiar  eyes,  and  hear  something  of  the  younger  tone  of  the 
voice,"  and  so  our  hearts  spring  forth  to  one  another,  and  we 
grasp  the  hand  again  and  say  "Yes,  we  were  here  together 
forty  years  ago;"  forty  and  more  years,  some  of  us  can  say, 
and  still  we  feel  young  today. 

But  the  hands  of  time  have  been  busy.  We  have  changed, 
and  the  old  Academy  is  changed.  We  should  all  be  glad 
if  we  could  go  up  yonder  hill  and  in  at  the  door  of  the  Acad- 
emy and  see  things  as  they  were  then,  but  the  building  has 
been  changed — changed  to  be  younger  and  more  modern,  as 
is  fitting  and  to  be  expected,  in  a  community  like  this. 

But  some  will  say,  "Topsfield  Academy!  Why,  Topsfield 
Academy  is  dead  !  It  died  years  ago  !"  Oh  no  !  Topsfield 
Academy  still  lives !  Not  only  in  the  hearts  of  those  before 
me,  but  it  lives  in  our  lives — in  the  lives  of  every  one  who 
hears  me  this  afternoon.  It  lives  in  our  memory  of  those 
whom  we  knew  in  those  years,  and  who  have  gone  on  before, 
and  whom  we  expect  to  meet  sometime  on  the  other  shore. 

One  of  the  reverend  gentlemen  who  sit  behind  me,  said 
to-day  that  he  has  never  seen  the  name  of  a  Topsfield  Acad- 
emy student  in  the  Police  Gazette  or  a  Rogues'  Gallery. 
(He  may,  later  on,  tell  you  how  he  knows  so  much  about 
the  Rogues'  Gallery.)  But  I  presume  he  is  right  when  he 
says  that  those  who  were  educated  in  Topsfield,  and  took  in 
the  inspiration  of  these  beautiful  hills,  and  carried  out  the 
instructions  given  us  by  our  kind  and  thoughtful  teachers, 
have  never  been  heard  of  in  the  Police  Gazette  or  Rogues' 
Gallery. 

To  Topsfield  Academy  and  its  instructors  we  all  look 
back  to-day  with  pleasure  and  gratitude,  for  what  we  here 
gained  in  our  efforts  to  acquire  a  higher  education. 

And,  to  the  old  Academy,  the    communities    about    here 


80  THE   TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

from  which  we  came  owe  a  debt  which,  perhaps,  some  might 
say,  can  never  be  repaid,  but  which  we  may,  I  think,  better 
say,  has  been,  and  is  being,  paid  in  the  lives  of  the  many 
who  went  out  from  the  Academy  so  well  equipped  for  emi- 
nent usefulness. 

And  the  founders  of  the  Academy, — let  us  not  forget 
them,  but  bear  in  mind  how  richly  we  have  entered  into  their 
labors,  and  how  great  is  our  obligation  to  them  for  their 
zeal,  their  unselfishness  and  their  liberality. 

And  the  good  old  town,  which  in  so  many  ways  and  for 
so  many  years  did  so  much  to  maintain  the  Academy  !  It 
is  a  source  of  great  honor  to  this  people  that  here,  when 
public  schools  of  a  high  grade  were  lacking,  such  an  insti- 
tution as  this  held  so  high  and  so  large  a  place  in  their 
hearts.  The  fact  is  indisputable  testimony  to  the  character 
and  worth  of  the  good  citizens  of  Topsfield.  And  the  good 
cheer,  the  hearty  welcome,  the  ample  preparations  which 
meet  us  on  every  hand  here  to-day  are  but  added  testimony 
in  the  same  direction,  and  are  proof  to  us  that  in  all  these 
years  the  character  of  this  people  has  not  changed,  except 
it  be  for  the  better. 

So  in  many  ways,  in  many  hearts,  in  many  lives,  the  old 
times  are  renewed,  and  we  who  are  here  to-day  rejoice  that 
a  kind  Providence  has  spared  us  to  meet  once  more,  living 
witnesses  to  the  fact  that  Topsfield  Academy  still  lives. 


ORATION. 


BY  JOHN   WRIGHT    PERKINS,    OF   SALEM,    MASS. 


I  am  forceably  reminded  by  my  position  here  to-day,  of  an 
incident  which  happened  nearly  forty  years  ago.  Its  story 
has  been  often  repeated  and  is  doubtless  familiar  to  many 
of  you.  But  when  new  the  incident  was  this : — The  late 
Rufus  Choate  had  been  engaged  to  give  the  Oration  at  the 
commencement  exercises  of  Dartmouth  College,  his  Alma 
Mater.  Failing  health  had  obliged  him  to  withdraw  from 
the  engagement  and  Dr.  Holmes  had  been  secured  to  speak 
in  his  place.  On  the  Doctor's  way  up  to  Hanover  the  ques- 
tion was  asked: — "Who  is  to  fill  Mr.  Choate's  place  on  the 
program?"  To  which  the  Doctor  at  once  replied: — "No- 
body is  going  to  fill  it,  /am  going  up  to  rattle  round  in  it." 

Sharing  with  you  in  the  general  disappointment  and  re- 
gret, occasioned  by  the  necessary  absence  of  the  distin- 
guished gentleman,  who  was  put  down  as  the  Orator  for  this 
occasion,  I  have  at  the  eleventh  hour  engaged  to  stand 
here  and  "rattle  round  in  his  place." 

In  the  twenty  minutes  to  which  this  part  of  the  program 
has  been  wisely  limited,  it  would  not,  of  course,  be  possible, 
to  treat  any  subject  exhaustively,  but  it  will  be  necessary  to 
adopt  a  somewhat  touch  and  go  style,  in  the  way  of  sugges- 
tion, rather  than  of  completeness. 

Having  in  mind,  that  we  were  to  meet  as  the  representa- 
tives of  an  educational  institution,  drawn  together  by  consid- 
erations chiefly  personal  and  local  in  their  nature,  it  has 
seemed  to  me  not  inappropriate  to  take  as  my  theme: — The 
Personal  and  the  Local  Element  in  Education.  It  is  possible 
for  words  of  most  important  meaning  to  loose  something  of 
their  definiteness,  by  the  very  commonness  and  extent  of 

(so 


82  THE   TOPSFIELD     ACADEMY. 

their  use.  They  seem  to  shade  off  into  varied  significations, 
modified  by  the  personalities  of  the  many  who  use  them. 
Thus,  Religion,  Politics,  Education,  stand  for  most  impor- 
tant principles,  and  yet  we  know  that  each  of  these  words 
may  awaken  different  conceptions,  in  the  minds  of  people  of 
the  same  community.  Hence,  in  speaking  of  such  topics, 
it  is  well  in  the  beginning,  to  make  a  statement  of  what  the 
subject  treated  means  in  the  mind  of  the  speaker.  Particu- 
larly is  this  true  of  Education,  since,  as  we  shall  see,  the 
word  has  two  well-defined  meanings. 

Some  months  ago,  I  was  requested  to  write  an  article  of 
not  more  than  four  hundred  words  upon  this  subject: 
"What  constitutes  a  good  education  and  how  to  obtain  it." 
I  respectfully  declined,  giving  as  my  excuse,  that  I  did  not 
have  sufficient  time  to  cover  so  large  a  subject  in  so  few 
words.  I  added,  however,  that  for  a  brief  and  comprehen- 
sive answer  to  the  questions  proposed,  I  knew  of  nothing 
better  than  six  words  from  the  Old  Testament: — "Fear  God 
and  keep  his  commandments,"  bearing  in  mind  that  fear, 
here  means  profound  reverance,  and  that  the  commands  of 
God  have  been  written  not  only  in  a  book,  but  all  over  the 
face  of  nature,  and  stamped  upon  the  individual  conscience 
of  every  rational  being.  You  will  remember  that  in  the 
context  from  which  these  six  words  are  taken,  they  are  fol- 
lowed by  the  statement,  "For  this  is  the  whole  duty  of  man." 
But  the  word  duty  is  in  italic,  indicating  that  it  is  not  in  the 
original,  so  that  the  Hebrew  text  is  even  stronger  and  more 
suggestive,  with  the  meaning,  "For  this  is  the  whole  of  man." 
Education  in  its  enlarged  sense  has  to  do  with  the  whole 
man. 

Since  giving  that  answer,  I  have  heard  a  definition  given  by 
two  college  professors,  from  widely  distant  colleges,  and  each 
defined  education  in  the  words  used  by  the  other,  namely, 
"fullness  of  life,"  which  is  much  the  same  in  substance  as  the 
one  suggested  above.  But  this  word  in  its  strictly  technical 
and  scientific  sense  is  more  restricted  in  its  meaning,  and  de- 
notes only  that  culture  which  is  the  product  of  a  human  mind, 
working  upon  and  directing  the  mind  of  another.  The  larger 
definition  given  above  reminds  us  of  the  words  of  him,  whom, 
whatever  else  we  may  think  of  him,  we  must  regard  as  the 


THE   ORATION.  83 

greatest  and  most  influential  of  teachers  in  which  he  pro- 
claimed the  object  of  his  mission  in  the  declaration,  "I  am 
come  that  they  might  have  life  and  that  they  might  have  it 
more  abundantly."  But  along  side  of  this  declaration  it  is 
well  to  place  his  other  saying,  "Is  not  the  life  more  than  meat 
and  the  body  than  raiment?"  and  also  his  statement,  "He  that 
would  save  his  life  must  lose  it."  In  these  three  sayings  of 
the  founder  of  Christianity,  we  have  the  foundation  of  a  large 
part  of  the  Philosophy  of  Education.  We  have  its  aim,  an 
abundant  life,  the  suggested  meaning  of  life  as  something 
raised  above  mere  material  well  being,  and  the  further  truth 
that  the  largest  expansion  of  life  must  come  through  previ- 
ous suppression  and  self  denial. 

In  the  old  Assembly's  Catechism,  in  which  our  fathers  were 
instructed  and  some  of  us  began  to  be  instructed,  the  first 
question  and  answer,  you  will  recall,  has  to  do  with  the  "chief 
end  of  man."  As  it  is  therein  defined,  it  is  not  easy  to  see 
how  either  part  of  the  answer  could  be  realized  short  of  the 
fullest  development  of  all  our  powers  and  capabilities.  For 
a  time,  it  was  a  question  of  hot  discussion  and  patient  investi- 
gation among  men  of  science,  whether  in  the  physical  world, 
there  was  to  be  found  convincing  evidence  of  the  spontane- 
ous origin  of  life.  But  after  much  trial  the  confession  came, 
"We  know  nothing  of  the  origin  of  life  save  as  it  is  found  in 
preexistant  life."  So  of  by  far  the  greater  part  of  our  intel- 
lectual, our  moral  and  our  spiritual  life,  the  part  which  is  the 
product  of  education  in  its  scientific  sense,  we  have  to  say,  it 
is  wholly  dependant  upon  preexistant  life  of  a  similar  kind. 

Whether  the  man  has  been  trained  in  the  schools,  or  is  a 
so-called  "self  made  man" — an  impossible  product,  by  the 
way,  in  civilized  society — in  the  last  analysis  he  will  be  found 
mainly  indebted  to  the  spoken  or  written  word,  or  to  the  un- 
spoken or  unwritten  personal  influence  of  other  men. 

So  great  is  the  undesigned  and  unconscious  effect  of  social 
relationship,  that  it  has  always  formed  a  great  factor  in  the 
advantages  of  our  schools,  particularly  where,  as  in  academy 
and  college,  the  students  see  much  of  one  another  outside  of 
the  hours  set  for  study  and  recitation.  Edward  Everett  Hale, 
speaking  of  the  influences  which  had  contributed  to  his  edu- 
cation, says,  for  the  good  he  received  in  college,  he  was  more 


84  THE  TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

indebted  to  the  fellows,  than  to  the  faculty.  If  any  one  thinks 
that  Dr.  Hale  does  not  mean  to  be  taken  quite  seriously  in 
this  assertion,  it  must  at  least  be  acknowledged  as  strong  tes- 
timony, from  a  high  authority,  to  the  advantage  obtained  from 
the  mutual  intercourse  of  student  life. 

A  similar  sentiment  was  expressed  in  a  letter  I  once  re- 
ceived from  a  gentleman  in  a  distant  city,  concerning  his  son 
who  was  under  my  instruction.  He  said  he  wished  his  boy 
to  go  to  college,  preferably  to  one  which  had  a  widely  dis- 
tributed patronage,  that  he  might  make  the  acquaintance  of 
cultivated  men,  representing  different  and  distant  types  of 
American  society. 

But  the  personal  element,  great  as  its  province  is,  can  not 
claim  the  entire  realm  of  education  for  its  own,  when  we  use 
the  word  education,  in  its  most  comprehensive  sense.  Then 
the  word  stands  for  a  result,  which  is  the  product  of  all  the 
influences  that  combined  to  increase  one's  power,  elevate  his 
taste,  or  purify  his  character,  and  among  these,  the  element 
of  locality,  with  all  it  implies,  must  take  a  very  high  rank.  In 
savage  life  this  comes  to  be  strikingly  noticeable.  Literature 
and  tradition  are  fruitful  in  anecdote  of  habits  of  minute  ob- 
servation, of  mental  alertness,  and  power  of  quick  adaptation 
to  sudden  emergencies,  among  uncivilized  men,  which  seems 
to  us  preternatural,  not  to  say,  supernatural. 

In  literary  productions  of  the  highest  order,  the  most  im- 
pressive passages  are  often  those  which  reveal  the  power  ex- 
ercised upon  the  author  by  local  scenery  and  homely  inci- 
dent. Prophet  and  Psalmist  are  replete  with  imagery  of  the 
open  country  life  with  which  they  must  have  lived  on  terms 
of  friendly  intimacy.  When  we  read  Homer  and  other  an- 
cient poets,  Greek  and  Latin,  we  are  constantly  finding  de- 
lightful evidence  of  strength,  wisdom,  and  refined  simplicity 
of  taste  drawn  from  the  same  unfailing  source.  Especially 
can  no  one  read  Homer  without  being  impressed  with  the 
evidence,  that  he  was  influenced  by  proximity  to  the  ocean. 
One  of  his  many  descriptive  epithets  is  so  expressive  and  so 
resonant,  that  from  it  Dr.  Holmes  coins  a  word,  when  he 
speaks  of  the  "poluphloesboean  sea."  This,  in  plainer  Eng- 
lish, means  the  sea  of  many  voices.  Can  any  one  doubt,  that 
the  man  who  thus  habitually  expresses  himself,  had  often 


THE    ORATION.  85 

walked  by  the  shore  of  the  sounding  sea,  and  had  taken  into 
his  soul  both  the  awakening,  and  the  subduing  effect  of  the 
thunderous  reverberation,  and  the  lisping,  tinkling  melody  of 
its  music. 

Among  poets  of  our  own  tongue,  Burns,  Whittier,  Long- 
fellow, and  Lowell,  represent — two  of  them — an  education 
independent  of  the  schools,  the  other  two,  the  highest  educa- 
tion to  be  obtained  by  almost  every  appliance  of  culture. 
Yet  all  are  alike  in  this,  that  those  things  in  their  works  that 
charm  us  most,  could  not  have  been  produced,  had  not  the 
authors  been  brought  face  to  face  with  Nature  at  first  hand. 

Whenever  I  hear — as  I  frequently  do — children  whose  life 
is  mostly  confined  in  cities,  reading  or  reciting  gems  of  prose 
or  poetry  descriptive  of  country  life  or  incident,  there  always 
stirs  within  me,  a  feeling  of  pity  for  their  hopeless  inability  to 
appreciate  the  spirit  of  the  words  they  utter.  At  such  times, 
I  think  how  much  there  is  that  calls  for  unspeakable  grati- 
tude, in  the  lot  of  one  in  whose  early  life,  field  and  meadow, 
pasture  and  woodland,  winding  streams  and  sequestered 
paths,  animate  life  both  wild  and  domestic,  were  the  objects 
of  daily  observation.' 

I  still  walk  occasionally  over  the  same  road  and  pasture 
paths  that  were  my  daily  route  between  this  school  and  the 
home  of  my  boyhood.  They  happen  to  lie  through  some  of 
the  most  attractive  scenery  of  this  beautiful  old  town.  And, 
as  I  stop  here  and  there  to  gaze,  seeing  before  me  the  beauty 
and  variety  of  the  extended  landscape  and  the  distant  sea, 
I  ask  myself  the  question: — "Did  I  as  a  boy,  did\,  take  in 
all  these  things  at  their  full  worth?"  and  the  answer  rises  in 
my  heart,  that  whether  I  did  or  did  not,  their  silent  influence 
wrought  for  me,  that  which  has  immeasurably  increased 
the  worth  of  everything  else  that  I  have  ever  learned. 
Among  the  blessed  fruits  of  these  country  academies,  we  are 
to  consider  the  importance  of  the  service  they  rendered,  in 
bringing  young  men  and  maidens  from  the  cities,  during  a 
part  of  the  plastic  period  of  youth,  into  more  intimate  contact 
and  acquaintance  with  the  grand  old  teacher  of  us  all,  Mother 
Nature  herself. 

But  the  influence  of  locality  may  be  felt  as  an  educative 
force  also,  through  the  law  of  association,  in  bringing  before 


86  THE   TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

our  mental  vision  with  increased  vividness,  deeds  and  events 
that  deserve  undying  remembrance.  Thus,  from  all  parts  of 
our  country  and  from  beyond  the  sea,  the  thronging  multi- 
tudes come  to  visit  Plymouth  Rock,  and  Lexington,  and  Con- 
cord, and  Bunker  Hill.  They  come  with  no  expectation 
surely,  of  being  thrilled  by  the  intrinsic  beauty  or  grandeur 
of  these  places ;  but  because  the  places  are  suggestive  of  the 
sublime  faith  in  God,  through  which  our  country  was  found- 
ed, and  the  sturdy,  heroic  valor,  with  which  its  liberties  were 
defended. 

Two  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago  this  very  year,  the  Puri- 
tan spirit  expressed  itself  in  establishing  the  first  free  public 
school  in  Massachusetts.  The  act  of  establishment  was  ac- 
companied by  a  preamble  which  stated  the  motive,  and  ended 
with  these  words: — "That  learning  may  not  be  buried  in  the 
grave  of  our  fathers  in  the  church  and  commonwealth." 
They  had  already  founded  the  college.  We  hold  these  acts 
in  highest  honor,  not  alone  because  we  regard  them  as  the 
fountain  from  which  there  has  flowed,  and  from  which  we 
believe  there  will  ever  continue  to  flow,  a  stream  whose  wa- 
ters shall  do  much  for  the  ''healing  of  the  nations,"  but  be- 
cause we  know  something  of  the  personal  sacrifice  and  self 
denial  which  these  acts  involved,  on  the  part  of  those  by 
whom  they  were  conceived  and  executed. 

But  founded  in  much  the  same  spirit,  and  often  maintained 
with  hardly  less  personal  sacrifice,  were  the  country  acade- 
mies which  dotted  so  many  of  the  hills  of  New  England,  and 
which  did  a  most  important  work  that  otherwise  must,  in 
great  part,  have  been  left  undone. 

Today  the  spell  of  personality,  and  the  spell  of  locality, 
are  strong  upon  us.  We  feel  that  it  is  good  for  us  to  meet 
once  more,  to  renew  our  familiarity  with  the  place,  and  with 
one  another,  and  to  recall  the  memory  of  other  schoolmates, 
and  former  teachers,  to  all  of  whom,  our  feeling  of  indebted- 
ness is  deep  and  lasting.  But  the  place  and  the  occasion 
remind  us,  also,  of  others,  who  may  or  may  not  have  ever 
been  members  of  the  same  school,  but  through  whose 
inspiration,  and  self-denying  help,  the  advantages  of  an  ex- 
tended school-life  were  made  our  own.  Today,  like  the 
gracious  return  of  a  blessed  presence,  the  thought  comes  to 


OF  THE 

(   UNIVERSITY   ) 

or 


THE    ORATION.  8/ 

us,  of  those  who  judged  no  pains  too  great,  no  sacrifice  too 
costly,  that  son  or  daughter,  brother  or  sister,  might  share  to 
the  full  in  the  benefits  of  sound  learning,  because  they  be- 
lieved that  in  such  sacrifice,  they  were  helping  to  transmute 
the  outward  things  of  life,  into  the  inward  power  of  enlarged 
being,  and  because  by  precept  and  example,  handed  down 
through  long  lines  of  ancestry,  they  had  learned  and  they 
wished  us  never  to  forget,  to  "look  not  upon  the  things 
which  are  seen,  but  upon  the  things  which  are  not  seen,"  in 
the  firm  faith  and  belief,  that  "the  things  which  are  seen  are 
temporal,  but  the  things  which  are  not  seen  are  eternal." 


ODE. 


EUGENE   TAPPAN,    ESQ.,    OF  BOSTON,   MASS. 


We  never  can  forget, 
That  years  ago  we  met 
In  Topsfield  town. 
In  heart,  and  mind,  and  will, 
We  feel  the  impulse  still, 
Of  Academic  hill, 
In  Topsfield  town. 

Today  we  here  repair, 

And  breathe  the  healthful  air 

In  Topsfield  town. 
Each  field  and  stream  we  greet — 
Each  spot  to  memory  sweet — 
And  tread  the  ancient  street 

In  Topsfield  town. 

Thanks  for  our  welcome  here, 
Thanks  for  this  goodly  cheer 

In  Topsfield  town. 
'Twas  ever  Topsfield's  way, 
To  make  the  comer's  stay 
Happy  as  summer  day 

In  Topsfield  town. 

TUN  E — A  incrica. 


(88) 


GEORGE    CONANT. 


BEAUTY. 

GEORGE   CONANT,    OF   PASADENA,    CALIFORNIA. 


"Beauty  armed  with  Virtue  fortifies  the  soul 
With  a  commanding  but  a  sweet  control." 


Whatever  strikes  the  eye 

With  a  pleasurable  thrill, 
Or  delights  the  willing  ear 

And  its  winding  channels  fill, 
Or  wakes  the  soul  to  action 

And  its  finer  fibres  sway, 
Or  touches  up  the  heart-strings 

In  a  sweetly  brilliant  way, 
Has  charms  upon  the  beautiful 

In  sky,  on  land  and  sea 
'Mong  high  and  low  of  every  race — 

A  key  to  harmony. 
The  harmony  of  color 

And  the  harmony  of  song, 
The  melody  of  Vesper  bells 

To  the  beautiful  belong. 
Beauty  lingers  in  the  lily, 

Is  enthroned  within  the  rose, 
Climbs  to  dizzy  heights  of  splendor 

In  the  arch  of  God's  rainbows, 
Slumbers  with  the  sleeping  cherub 

In  its  cottage  cradle  bed, 
Wakes  to  conscious  revelation 

When  fair  youth  and  maiden  wed. 
Seen  is  beauty  in  the  lowest 

And  the  highest  of  God's  creatures, 
When  in  symmetry  enfolded 

And  endowed  with  winning  features. 

(89) 


QO  THE  TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

Nothing  can  be  viewed  as  homely 

That  gives  pleasure  to  the  mind  : 
A  wrinkled  maid  filled  up  with  goodness 

An  Uncle  Tom  both  black  and  blind, 
A  whitened  head  packed  full  of  wisdom, 

A  benefactor  bowed  with  years, 
Unselfish  children  at  their  pastime, 

A  fallen  Peri  shedding  tears, 
A  mother  with  her  firstling  baby, 

An  Indian  girl  by  mirrored  stream 
Making  her  simple  morning  toilet, 

A  model  for  an  artist's  theme — 
All  these  are  pictures  full  of  beauty 

Pictures  hung  on  every  hand, 
Multitudes  greet  their  unveiling 

Admiration  they  command. 
The  world  is  full  of  things  of  beauty 

Everywhere  within  the  poles, 
It  strikes  with  force  all  keen  observers, 

It  stirs  them  to  their  inner  souls. 
Looking  from  a  mountain  summit 

There  breaks  a  captivating  view, 
Nerve-stilling  thoughts  course  long  the  brain-cells- 

Nature's  pictures  touched  anew ; 
The  vastness  of  the  sweep  of  vision 

Quickens  pulse  and  brings  delight, 
And  the  far  off  landscape  beauties 

Seem  to  swing  before  the  sight ; 
Lake  and  orchard  nestling  closely, 

Vineyard,  meadow,  garden,  rock, 
Silver  threads  of  winding  rivers, 

Emerald  forest,  shepherd's  flock, 
Shadows  from  o'erhanging  cloudland, 

Moving,  fleck  the  valley  wide, 
Seas  of  grain-field,  waving  golden 

On  which  ghostly  ships  might  ride. 
This  is  cycloramic  beauty 

Only  seen  from  towering  heights, 
Overwhelming  in  its  grandeur — 

Far  transcending  other  sights, 


THE    POEM.  91 

Dimly  glints  the  distant  ocean, 

Circumscribing  with  its  sheen 
Islands  on  the  curved  horizon 

Rounding  out  the  shimmering  scene. 
The  vision  changes :   Night  is  drawing 

Down  her  curtain  near  and  far 
Sable  drapery  unfolding — 

Pins  it  with  a  jeweled  star. 
As  the  twilight  further  deepens 

Nature's  symphonies  resound ; 
Chirping  insects  the  soprano 

Turtle  doves  the  alto  sound. 
Then  the  silver  limbs  of  Luna, 

One  on  earth  and  one  in  sky, 
Vault  upon  the  floor  of  heaven, 

Trip  it  with  the  stars  on  high. 
Constellations  light  the  ceiling 

Of  the  azure  concave  arch, 
Unique  figures  masked  and  merry — 

Grand  processions  dance  and  march. 
What  more  magnifies  our  pleasure, 

Glorifies  the  eager  sight, 
Than  the  heavenly  exhibition 

Of  an  oriental  night? 
The  immensity  of  dome 

Studded  full  of  glittering  gems, 
Crowns  the  works  of  the  Creator, 

Drapes  his  garments  to  the  hems. 
Reincarnate  Michael  Angelo 

In  the  Cistine  Chapel,  lives 
Immortalized  in  splendid  frescoes 

Which  only  God-like  genius  gives. 
Nature's  songs  in  quiet  cadence 

Sound  at  night  and  early  morn, 
In  the  sighing  pine-tree  forest, 

In  the  rustling  fields  of  corn. 
When  the  frost  king  grasps  the  branches 

Covering  twigs  on  bush  and  tree, 
And  the  sun  unlocks  the  shackles, 

How  they  fall  with  tinkling  glee ! 


92  THE   TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

From  the  beauties  of  creation 

Lying  'neath  cerulean  dome, 
Rising  higher  than  the  landscape 

Are  the  beauties  of  the  home : 
Wheels  domestic  running  smoothly 

With  no  break  or  plaintive  cry, 
Love,  the  motive  power  and  lubric 

As  the  days  go  sweetly  by. 
In  the  serious  days  of  history 

When  America  was  new, 
When  religion  was  the  watchword 

And  the  Christians  were  but  few, 
When  the  worshipers  were  fleeing 

From  the  tyranny  of  kings, 
And  these  potentates  were  masters 

Of  men's  souls  and  other  things, 
When  brave  woman's  deeds  were  stifled 

And  heroines  held  at  bay, 
And  men  were  lords  and  masters 

Having  everything  to  say, 
When  such  records  were  unfolding 

In  the  days  of  long  ago — 
Then  the  mothers  seemed  like  ciphers 

But  were  far  from  being  so ; 
For  the  rock  where  the  Pilgrims  landed 

Was  as  much  fore-mothers'  rock, 
As  it  was  the  famed  forefathers' — 

Just  as  sturdy,  stalwart,  stock. 
When  we  think  now  of  the  hardships 

Our  forefathers  struggled  through, 
Just  consider  our  condition 

Had  not  fore-mothers  struggled  too. 
Let  a  painting  then  be  issued 

Let  it  hang  on  every  wall, 
Representing  our  fore-mothers — 

'Twould  excel  in  beauty  all. 
Character  foremost  must  illumine 

Every  step  in  life's  career, 
Crowning,  makes  the  wearer  fairer, 

Beauty  that  all  men  revere. 


THE    POEM.  93 

Righteous  lives  transcend  in  beauty 

Art  or  song  or  facile  pen, 
Reaching  'cross  the  silent  river 

Recognized  as  golden  then. 
God's  greatest  works  revolve  in  cycles, 

Wheeling,  whirling,  never  wrong, 
So,  moral  heroes  have  an  orbit 

Which  to  the  beautiful  belong. 
Men  will  travel  land  and  ocean 

In  search  of  treasures  seldom  found, 
When  all  around  them  in  the  home-land 

Treasures  everywhere  abound : 
Wonderful  treasures  in  tree  and  flower, 

Mountain  fastness,  field  and  sky — 
Myriad  microscopic  museums, 

Under  our  very  feet  they  lie. 
What  so  fair  as  falling  water, 

Cascades  leaping,  foaming,  white, 
Mountain  torrents  rushing  onward 

Filling  soul  with  rare  delight? 
Breathing  marble — sculptor's  offspring 

Chiseled  from  his  fertile  brain — 
Artist's  soul-work,  living  canvas, 

Applauding  we  can  scarce  refrain. 
Down  in  caverns  of  the  ocean 

So  profound  the  brain  e'en  reels 
Find  we  many  a  field  of  beauty — 

A  world  of  wealth  man's  skill  reveals. 
The  beauties  of  Nature  never  are  stilled 

Her  cataracts  thunder  and  roar, 
Diapasons  of  Ocean  will  ever  resound 

On  island  and  continent  shore. 
Nightingale  notes  from  ideal  throats 

Ravish  the  ear  and  the  soul, 
And  even  the  morning  stars  it  is  writ 

Took  up  the  musical  role. 
Beauty  glows  in  flowers  of  language, 

Pulpit,  platform  show  its  power, 
Rostrum,  forum,  sway  the  masses, — 

Eloquence  is  beauty's  dower. 


94  THE  TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

Search  we  in  Zulu  or  Hottentot  land, 

.  Plunge  we  in  African  shade, 
Climb  we  above  the  glacial  flow, 

Spectacular  shows  are  arrayed. 
There  is  beauty  of  color,  beauty  of  form, 

Beauty  of  figure  and  face, 
Beautiful  thoughts — the  mosaics  of  mind, 

Beauty  of  manner  and  grace. 


Scriptural  beauties  hung  on  biblical  walls, 

Charm  us,  inspire  us  and  sorrow  forestalls ; 

Prophets  and  saints,  historians,  kings, 

Have  given  to  thought  most  beautiful  wings; 

They  flash  on  our  vision  as  we  scan  the  pure  pages, 

"The  beauty  of  holiness"  has  been  noted  for  ages, 

'Tis  woven  in  story,  repeated  in  song, 

Inspiring  the  feeble  and  righting  the  wrong; 

"How  beautiful  on  mountains  are  couriers'  feet 

That  bring  us  glad  tidings,"  and  goodness  replete. 

"The  beautiful  temple,"  "the  beautiful  gate," 

The  beautiful  home  we  anticipate — 

All  thrill  as  with  hope  of  a  life  that  is  newer, 

Cementing  our  friendship  and  making  it  truer. 

Now  ere  we  dismiss  this  delight-giving  theme 

There  uplifts  before  me  a  kind  of  day-dream  ; 

A  landscape  so  fair  rises  full  on  my  sight, 

Its  loveliness  rare  the  muses  invite. 

A  village  I  see  as  a  crown  to  the  field, 

Her  emerald  robes  in  beauty  revealed, 

Enfringed  by  a  radiant  meandering  river 

Benign  benefactions  exhaling  forever, 

Reflecting  a  joy  like  the  "Vale  of  Cashmere," 

A  bucolic  scene  that  scarce  has  a  peer. 

Here  the  bees  of  Hymettus  voice  their  sweet  coming 

As  they  bring  in  the  nectar  with  musical  humming — 

The  robes,  the  field,  the  bees  and  the  stream 

Roseate  and  sun-kissed  make  up  the  day-dream. 

Oh  !  Topsfield  !  Top  of  the  fields,  and    pride  of  the  hills, 

Tranquil  and  restful  panacea  for  men's  ills, 


THE   POEM.  95 

Greeting  Aurora,  as  she  mounts  her  red  car, 

For  a  drive  thro'  the  gates  of  the  morning  afar; 

Smiling  with  sunshine,  smiling  in  shade, 

Foremost  in  peace,  but  in  war  not  dismayed, 

Sitting  as  Queen  in  this  beauteous  valley, 

Gracious  to  guests  that  'round  your  feet  rally ! 

Villas,  meadows,  and  river  your  arena  bedecking 

With  garden  and  orchard — your  verdant  slopes  flecking, 

Your  firesides  aglow  with  contentment  and  peace — 

May  your  sky  as  today  from  gloom  have  surcease, 

And  more  than  all  this  may  the  stars  on  you  shine 

Lustrous  in  beauty  as  in  days  of  "lang  syne." 

The  day  will  soon  close,  but  in  mem'ry  to  exist, 

Our  lessons  recited,  the  school  be  dismissed, 

Yet  the  greenness  of  age  must  prove  no  delusion 

Can  we  only  accept  these  words  in  conclusion : 

In  "Union  there's  strength"  in  minion  yet  more, 

The  latch  string  has  beauty  when  it  hangs  out  the  door ; 

The  reunion  of  hearts  as  the  world  ever  stands 

Is  more  beautiful  still  than  reunion  of  hands. 

Tho'  the  gathering  years  make  the  outside  grow  old 

And  the  teeth  leave  their  moorings  or  are  yellow  with  gold, 

Tho'  the  heads  become  silvered  and  the  backs  have  a  bend, 

And  the  steps  get  a  sort  of  irregular  trend, 

Tho'  all  of  these  sign-boards  point  but  one  way 

Down  the  slippery  life-slope  to  physical  decay, 

Yet  ever  triumphant  the  heart  should  be  young, 

Tho'  the  faculties  falter  soul-songs  should  be  sung — 

And  here  is  a  truth  above  all  contradiction 

(And  as  we  look  on  this  group  it  becomes  a  conviction,) 

That  the  fairest  of  things — the  most  beautiful  sign, 

Is  the  eternal  spring  just  below  the  snow-line. 


Then  reenforced  be  our  courage 

As  we  go  down  the  grade, 
Let  us  think  not  of  sorrow  to-morrow, 

Nor  look  we  to  witness  the  evening  star  fade 
Or  ever  a  heart  trouble  borrow. 


96  THE   TOPSFIELD     ACADEMY. 

So,  let  the  crown  of  all  beauties 

That  the  reason  must  sway, 
Be  placed  on  the  youthful 

Re-unionist  today — 
The  one  who  feels  youngest 

The  laurel  should  crown, 
For  he's  rising  the  slope 

As  others  go  down. 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 


M.   V.    B.    PERLEY,    OF    IPSWICH,    MASS. 


The  Historical  Address,  delivered  by  Mr.  Perley,  at  this 
point  in  the  literary  exercises  has  been  entirely  rewritten, 
and  is  printed  herewith  as  a  "History  of  the  Academy." 
"The  structure  of  the  address  has,  in  preparation  of  this 
history,  been  demolished,  and  the  framework  used  as  the 
receptacle  of  any  and  all  obtainable  facts  having  reference  to 
the  subject." 


REMINISCENT  ADDRESS. 


REV.  GEO.  L.  GLEASON,  OF  HAVERHILL,  MASS. 


Great  interests  are  affected  sometimes  by  trivial  incidents. 
Great  occasions  are  determined  by  seemingly  insignificant 
events.  This  illustrious  gathering  once  hinged  upon  the 
simple  circumstance,  that  J.  Warren  Healy  knew  how  to 
advertise.  And  this  art  he  understood  to  perfection.  Here, 
I  desire  to  say  in  passing,  that  I  agree  with  the  historian  of 
the  day,  in  regarding  J.  Warren  Healy  as  a  most  remark- 
able man.  He  was  not  a  scholar,  or  man  of  literary  culture. 
He  never  had  time  for  thorough  literary  training.  During 
his  college  course,  he  supported  himself  and  wife,  by  teaching 
and  preaching,  and  ever  after  he  was  engaged  in  the 
most  intense  service.  Yet  he  was  a  peer  of  literary  men, 
and  for  a  time  was  the  president  of  a  university.  For  the 
same  reason,  he  was  not  a  profound  theologian,  still,  he 
occupied  some  of  the  commanding  pulpits  of  the  Interior, 
and  received  the  degree  of  D.  D.,  from  a  respectable  west- 
ern college.  No  one  would  regard  him  as  eminent  for 
piety.  Yet,  he  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Moody's 
church  in  Chicago,  where  spirituality  was  regarded  as  the 
prime  factor.  He  occupied  other  important  positions,  and 
his  whole  career  may  be  regarded  as  phenomenal.  My  ac- 
quaintance with  Mr.  Healy  began  in  the  autumn  of  1853, 
and  continued  with  more  or  less  intimacy  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death.  I  have  already  remarked  that  Mr.  Healy  knew  how 
to  advertise.  This  was  one  of  the  secrets  of  his  success. 
In  the  summer  of  '53,  he  announced  to  the  youth  of  north- 
ern N.  H.,  and  Vt,  that  he  had  taken  Bath  Academy,  and 
was  prepared  with  an  able  corps  of  teachers,  to  give  the  best 
possible  education,  in  the  shortest  possible  time,  and  at  the 

(97) 


98  THE  TOPSFIELD    ACADEMY. 

least  possible  expense.  This  was  the  school  we  all  wanted 
to  attend.  The  youth  of  that  day  were  in  greater  has.te  to 
get  into  their  life  work,  even,  than  the  young  men  and  wo- 
men of  the  present. 

My  older  brother  and  myself,  passed  by  an  academy  which 
we  had  previously  attended,  and  which  we  knew  to  be  well 
equipped  and  manned,  and  with  sixty  or  eighty  other  youth, 
in  the  autumn  of  '53,  entered  Bath  Academy.  We  found  it 
an  old  dilapidated  building,  with  no  apparatus,  and  no  pro- 
vision for  boarding  the  students.  The  able  corps  of  teachers 
consisted  of  J.  Warren  Healy,  A.  B.,as  principal,  Mrs.  J.  War- 
ren Healy,  as  preceptress,  and  a  small  limb  of  the  law  as  assist- 
ant. Mr.  Healy  soon  became  seriously  ill,  and  the  school  was 
left  to  run  itself.  Here  my  real  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Healy 
began,  for  I  was  one  of  the  students  drafted  into  service  as  a 
watcher  and  then  as  a  nurse.  I  found  him  to  be  a  very  irrita- 
ble and  uneasy  patient,  caused  largely  by  the  nature  of  his 
disease.  And  here  I  discovered  another  life-long  obstacle 
with  which  he  had  to  contend,  physical  infirmities  which 
would  have  disheartened  and  paralyzed  the  endeavor,  of  one 
less  brave  and  ambitious.  The  state  of  his  health  compelled 
him  to  abandon  the  school,  about  the  middle  of  the  fall 
term,  and  the  most  of  the  pupils  left  the  academy.  Here,  I 
first  met  Dan  Wilkins,  a  typical  Vermonter,  though  born 
on  the  east  side  of  the  Connecticut  river.  He  was  a  man 
of  unusual  ability,  his  talent  partaking  of  the  nature  of 
genius.  Had  he  not  lacked  some  of  the  moral  elements,  he 
would  have  been  a  great  character.  He  followed  Mr.  Healy 
to  Topsfield  in  the  autumn  of  '54,  and,  I  think,  remained 
through  the  winter.  He  wrote  me  such  glowing  descrip- 
tions of  the  town  and  school,  that  I  decided  to  join  him  in 
the  fall  of  '55.  He  arranged  to  meet  me  at  Middleton,  as  the 
trains  did  not  connect  so  that  I  could  reach  Topsfield  in  a 
day.  Vividly  do  I  remember  landing  on  the  platform  of 
the  lonely  station  in  Middleton,  one  hot,  dusty  afternoon  in 
September,  and  looking  in  vain  for  my  friend.  If  ever  I  expe- 
rienced the  sensation  of  homesickness,  it  was,  when  walking 
the  dusty  turnpike  to  Topsfield  in  company  with  a  Mr. 
Lake  of  that  town.  With  Goldsmith's  traveller,  I  "dragged 
with  each  remove  a  lengthening  chain."  The  exaggerated 


REMINISCENT   ADDRESS.  99 

account  of  the  town  and  people,  and  the  school,  by  which  I 
was  entertained,  did  not  reassure  or  comfort  me.  Here  I 
should  remark,  that  Wilkins  had  engaged  to  meet  me  at 
Middleton  on  a  certain  day,  but  I  was  detained,  sent  him  a 
telegram  in  ample  season,  but  it  did  not  reach  him  until 
several  days  after  I  had  been  established  as  his  room-mate, 
in  the  home  of  Mr.  Israel  Rea.  The  autumn  of  '55,  passed 
without  special  incident.  I  devoted  myself  to  earnest  study, 
and  sought  to  adjust  myself  to  my  new  surroundings.  But, 
at  the  beginning  of  the  winter  term,  I  became  a  member  of 
Mr.  Healy's  family.  It  came  about  in  this  wise.  On  enter- 
ing the  academy,  I  sported  a  gold  watch,  chain  and  fob. 
This  became  the  admiration  of  some,  the  envy  of  others, 
and  the  scorn  of  a  third  class.  I  did  not  feel  quite  at  ease 
in  this  gorgeous  array.  But  Mr.  Healy  seemed  to  covet  the 
outfit,  and  we  entered  into  the  following  written  agreement, 
viz.  :  I,  the  party  of  the  first  part,  covenanted  to  make  over 
to  him  the  watch,  chain  and  fob ;  he,  the  party  of  the 
second  part,  agreed  to  furnish  me  with  board  a  certain 
number  of  weeks,  and  tuition  a  certain  number  of  terms. 
George  Pierce  of  Marblehead,  became  my  room-mate.  He 
was  then  studying  with  reference  to  the  Christian  ministry. 
During  this  term  some  significant,  and  many  amusing  inci- 
dents occurred. 

A  prayer  meeting  was  started  in  the  academy,  and  Mr. 
Richardson  the  assistant  teacher,  invited  me  to  attend  and 
conduct  the  singing.  It  was  at  the  first  meeting  that  I  de- 
cided to  enter  fully  upon  the  religious  life,  and  publicly  de- 
clared my  purpose.  Thus  was  changed  the  whole  current 
of  my  life.  Others  took  a  similar  stand,  and  the  whole 
school,  for  a  time,  was  pervaded  with  a  strong  religious  sen- 
timent. My  room-mate  proposed,  sometime  during  the 
winter,  that  we  should  try  and  correct  each  the  others  dia- 
lect and  ungrammatical  expressions;  his  speech,  smacked  of 
the  sea,  mine,  of  the  mountains.  This  arrangement  worked 
admirably  for  a  time.  It  was  a  great  advantage  to  see  and 
hear  ourselves,  as  another  saw  and  heard  us.  But  a  rivalry 
arose,  not  altogether  generous,  I  fear,  as  to  who  should  detect 
the  most  faults,  and  soon  there  was  a  sting  in  the  criticism, 
some  irony,  and  more  bitterness  in  our  corrections  and  we 


100  THE   TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

eventually  lapsed  into  silence.  After  matters  had  come  to 
such  a  pitch,  we  concluded  to  leave  each,  to  correct  his  own 
faults  of  speech  and  conduct,  and  friendship  was  restored. 
The  character  of  the  board  furnished  us  that  winter  was  very 
unsatisfactory,  the  supply  was  not  equal  to  the  demand, 
and  the  quality  was  as  objectionable  as  the  quantity.  Mrs. 
Healy  was  always  overworked.  With  a  single  servant,  she 
was  expected  to  provide  for  her  large  and  hungry  family,  and 
still  do  duty  as  preceptress  in  the  academy,  then  at  its  height 
of  popularity  and  attendance.  Some  of  us  were  accus- 
tomed to  supplement  our  meagre  fare  at  the  table,  by  a  noc- 
turnal visit  to  the  kitchen.  We  had  already  secured  the 
good-will  of  Ellen,  the  cook,  and  maid-of-all  work,  who 
aided  and  abetted  our  predatory  warfare  on  the  larder. 

One  evening,  if  so  late  an  hour  as  1 1  P.  M.  may  be  called 
evening,  several  of  us  were  regaling  ourselves  with  a  sump- 
tious  repast  after  our  day's  abstemiousness,  when  a  ghost 
appeared  upon  the  stairway,  and  the  most  of  us  were  thrown 
into  a  state  of  consternation.  But  Ellen,  who  was  always 
equal  to  the  occasion,  seized  the  ladle,  and  hastily  filling  it 
with  cold  water,  discharged  its  full  contents  at  the  ghost  as 
it  vanished  at  the  head  of  the  stairs.  A  conspiracy  of 
silence  seemed  to  follow  this  occurrence,  and  it  is  with  some 
hesitation,  after  forty-two  years  silence,  that  I  give  the  facts 
to  the  public.  Personally,  I  do  not  believe  in  ghosts.  But 
I  am  sure  in  regard  to  this  one.  Like  others  it  was  arrayed 
in  white.  Like  the  typical  ghost  it  remained  silent.  But 
unlike  others,  it  came  from  above,  went  back  to  its  own 
place,  and  never  again  appeared. 

Sam.  Fowler  took  his  dinners  at  Mr.  Healy's.  One  day 
Mrs.  Healy  had  cut  the  two  pies  just  so  they  would  go 
round.  She  asked  each  of  us  in  turn,  which  we  would  have, 
squash  or  apple.  Our  replies  were  governed,  not  by  our 
tastes  or  the  merits  of  the  pies,  but  by  the  prospect  of  their 
holding  out  so  as  to  go  round.  When  Sam.'s  turn  came,  he 
was  equal  to  the  occasion,  and  replied,  "I  will  take  a  piece  of 
both,  if  you  please."  Thus,  some  one  had  to  go  without, 
probably,  Mrs.  Healy. 

It  was  during  this  winter,  that  George  Pierce  proposed  a 
drive  to  Bradford,  to  spend  the  day.  He  suggested  that  it 


REMINISCENT   ADDRESS.  IOI 

would  improve  our  manners  to  go  more  into  good  society. 
The  real  object,  however,  was  to  visit  Bradford  Academy, 
and  to  see  one  Susan  Perley,  of  Danvers,  whom  he  had  met, 
and  of  whom  he  was  somewhat  enamored.  We  secured  a 
fine  horse  and  sleigh,  with  a  merry  string  of  bells,  of  Frederic 
Merriam.  But  the  horse  proved  to  be  a  tearer.  He  started 
from  the  stable  like  a  cannon  ball,  but  unlike  a  cannon  ball, 
his  speed  did  not  diminish  as  the  distance  increased.  How- 
ever, we  reached  our  place  of  destination  without  incident. 
We  called  on  Benjamin  Greenleaf,  whom  we  found  a  most 
genial,  entertaining  man;  his  daughters  were  equally  engag- 
ing. I  had  conceived  a  decided  prejudice  against  Mr.  Green- 
leaf,  because  of  his  mathematical  works,  his  algebra  had  b.een 
my  special  abhorrence.  But  ever  after  this  I  have  "esteemed 
him  very  highly  in  love,"  for  what  he  was,  but  not  for  "his 
works'  sake."  We  spent  the  day  very  delightfully,  and  pro- 
fitably, in  company  with  the  students  of  the  academy,  and 
towards  night  turned  our  faces  homeward.  'But  if  the  horse 
was  eager  to  reach  his  place  of  destination  in  the  morning, 
he  now  seemed  frantic.  It  required  all  our  energy  to  keep 
him  under  control.  Soon  the  darkness  shut  down  upon  us. 
Another  terror  was  soon  added,  for  a  blinding  snow  storm 
set  in.  All  we  could  do  was  to  hold  on,  sometimes  with  our 
combined  force,  and  plunge  into  the  gathering  gloom.  At 
one  time,  when  the  horse  was  at  the  height  of  his  speed,  and 
I  was  taking  my  turn  at  holding  on,  the  sleigh  gave  a  lurch 
to  one  side,  and  George  rolled  out.  Summoning  all  my 
energy,  I  succeeded,  in  a  seasonable  time,  in  bringing  the 
horse  to  a  halt.  George  came  up  after  a  time,  puffing  and 
groaning,  declaring  that  he  feared  his  shoulder  was  dislocated. 
I  asked  him  why  he  had  got  out?  He  said  he  feared  the 
sleigh  was  going  to  tip  over.  I  told  him  that  never  in  the 
country  were  we  accustomed  to  get  out  until  we  were  sure 
of  a  tip-over.  But  he  had  incapacitated  himself  for  "holding 
on,"  and  I  drove  the  remaining  distance  without  further  in- 
cident. It  was  to  both  of  us  a  memorable  day. 

The  assistant  teachers  in  the  Academy  were  men  of  rare 
ability  and  excellent  character.  I  would  gladly  speak  of  each 
in  turn,  if  time  permitted.  J.  Henry  Richardson  was  the  assist- 
ant, in  the  years  '55-6.  I  shall  never  cease  to  be  gratified 


102  THE   TOPSFIELD     ACADEMY. 

that  it  was  my  lot  to  fall  in  with  such  a  pure  and  noble  man, 
at  this  formative  period  of  my  life.  He  took  me  into  his 
confidence  and  friendship.  We  walked,  and  talked,  and  sang 
together,  and  became  intimate  companions.  He  invited  me  to 
go  with  him  to  Andover,  where  he  had  an  engagement  as 
leader  of  the  Episcopal  choir.  He  took  me  to  the  home  of 
Prof.  Stowe,  and  introduced  me  to  my  subsequent  theologi- 
cal teacher,  and  his  then  famous  wife.  He  also  invited  me  to 
go  with  him  to  North  Reading,  to  attend  a  concert  given  by 
the  Normal  Musical  Institute,  which  was  under  the  direction 
of  Lowell  Mason  and  George  F.  Root.  Webb  presided  at 
the  organ,  the  most  accomplished  organist  I  had  ever  heard. 
He  proposed  to  pay  all  the  expenses,  making  the  only  con- 
dition of  my  acceptance,  that  I  should  invite  two  young  ladies 
whom  he  designated,  Miss  Georgie  Dorman  and  Miss  Addie 
Rea.  We  took  tea  at  his  home  in  Middleton,  and  his  broth- 
er and  two  sisters  accompanied  us  to  the  concert.  I  after- 
wards became  a  pupil  in  this  Institute,  and  was  in  the  chorus 
that  furnished  the  music  at  the  Andover  Theological  Semin- 
ary anniversary.  We  sang  the  Hallelujah  Chorus  with  grand 
effect. 

Some  of  my  most  pleasing  reminiscences,  are  in  connection 
with  the  families  and  homes  of  the  citizens  of  Topsfield. 
I  will  confine  my  remarks  strictly  to  my  student  days,  and  can 
mention  only  two  families,  that  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Kimball  and 
Mr.  B.  P.  Adams.  Sometimes,  for  months  together,  I  spent 
an  evening  each  week  in  the  home  of  Mr.  Kimball,  the  most 
of  the  time  was  passed  in  singing.  Mr.  Kimball  had  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  bass  voices  to  which  I  ever  listened,  and  I 
have  often  thought  that  I  never  heard  an  alto  voice,  that  sur- 
passed that  of  Miss  Hattie's,  in  tenderness  and  sweetness. 
Miss  Deborah,  sang  the  contralto,  and  I  carried  the  tenor. 
Miss  Susie,  no  less  musically  gifted  than  the  others,  presided 
at  the  piano.  But  they  have  all  gone,  and  I  have  no  doubt 
there  is  sweeter  music  in  heaven  because  of  their  presence, 
and  I  shall  always  be. gratified  that  it  was  my  lot,  when  a 
mere  lad,  to  be  invited  to  such  a  genial  musical  home. 

Mr.  Adams  was  the  post  master  and  kept  the  village  store. 
He  was  a  very  companionable  man,  and  often  took  me  for  a 
drive,  and  frequently  invited  me  to  his  home.  I  remember 


REMINISCENT   ADDRESS.  IO3 

when  the  new  piano  was  purchased.  After  a  little  I  was  in- 
vited in  to  hear  the  children  play.  Mary  acquitted  herself 
greatly  to  the  satisfaction  of  her  mother,  and  her  performance 
elicited  general  applause.  But  Mr.  Adams  was  greatly  inter- 
ested in  the  playing  of  Bonnie,  who  promised,  as  he  thought, 
to  be  a  musical  genius.  The  little  fellow  climbed  upon  the 
music  stool,  and  with  two  fingers,  played  "Peter,  Peter,  pump- 
kin eater,  had  a  wife  and  could'nt  keep  her,"  in  a  manner 
which  greatly  delighted  his  fond  parents.  I  joined  heartily 
in  the  applause.  I  have  since  listened  to  the  juvenile  per- 
formance of  many  a  promising  musician,  and  shared  the  ad- 
miration of  doting  parents,  but  never  did  I  carry  away  such  a 
vivid  picture,  as  that  of  little  Bennie. 

In  those  early  days  of  my  connection  with  the  academy, 
the  lyceum  was  in  a  most  flourishing  condition.  The  citizens 
took  a  deep  interest  in  the  debates,  and  some  of  them  were 
participants.  Mr.  Samuel  Hood,  who  was  a  most  remark- 
able man,  both  in  gifts,  attainments,  and  the  ability  to  state 
his  convictions,  the  Adamses,  Peabodys,  Balches  and  others, 
took  part  in  the  debates.  Occasionally  Mr.  McLoud  came 
in,  and  when  he  and  Mr.  Healy  were  opponents,  the  sparks 
would  fly,  and  excitement  was  great.  One  amusing  incident 
occurred  one  evening,  during  one  of  the  debates.  Mr.  Rich- 
ardson, the  assistant  principal,  was  accustomed  to  wear  a  tall 
hat.  He  had  just  purchased  a  new  one,  and,  for  its  careful 
preservation,  he  placed  it  on  one  of  the  seats.  Mr.  B.  P. 
Adams  came  in,  and  sat  down  plump,  on  the  new  hat.  It  was 
ruined  completely,  and  never  again  appeared  on  the  street. 

In  the  autumn  of  '56,  occurred  the  Fremont  campaign. 
The  three  Balches  and  myself,  started  a  campaign  quartette. 
Their  voices  were  very  heavy,  and  mine  was  comparatively 
weak,  and  seemed  like  a  little  purling  stream  in  the  meadow, 
by  the  side  of  three  roaring  Niagaras.  But  I  contributed  a 
campaign  song,  which  was  some  compensation  for  my  failure 
to  be  heard.  We  succeeded  in  carrying  Topsfield,  and  Mas- 
sachusetts, and,  I  think,  New  England,  but  not  the  whole 
country. 

Dud.  Pearson  and  I,  were  accustomed  to  sing  a  good  deal 
together.  He  had  an  excellent  bass  voice,  of  which  I  have 
many  times  heard  during  the  last  forty  years.  We  made 


104  THE   TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

several  attempts  to  serenade  our  lady  friends.  I  remember 
one  evening  in  particular.  We  had  made  special  prepara- 
tion ;  it  was  a  beautiful  night,  and  we  expected  to  elicit  great 
applause.  He,  could  go  very  low  and  I,  could  manage  to  get 
up  pretty  high.  We  sang  a  song  closing  with  the  words, 
"Sleep,  O  !  sleep!"  After  doing  our  best,  we  listened  for 
some  response,  but  she  slept,  and  slept ! 

I  must  content  myself  with  a  few  incidents  in  our  school  life. 
Our  rhetorical  exercises  Wednesday  afternoons  were  great 
occasions.  Mr.  Healy  was  then  at  his  best.  His  criticisms 
were  often  amusing,  sometimes  terrific.  We  had  some  good 
speakers.  George  Pierce,  N.  T.  Kimball,  Clarence  Fowler, 
and  others,  always  commanded  attention.  Some  also  were 
conspicuous  by  their  awkwardness  and  failures.  One  after- 
noon, Blaisdell,  from  Marblehead,  declaimed  a  piece  in  which 
reference  was  made  to  the  advancement  of  civilization.  He 
had  taken  his  position  at  the  extreme  rear  of  the  platform, 
and  when  he  came  to  this  passage,  he  folded  his  arms  and 
took  several  long  and  deliberate  strides  towards  the  front  of 
the  stage.  When  he  was  through,  Mr.  Healy  pounced  upon 
him.  He  said,  "Blaisdell,  didn't  you  know  better  than  that? 
I  would  as  soon  think  of  sitting  down  on  the  stage  to  per- 
sonate the  sun's  setting,  as  to  stride  across  the  platform  to 
represent  the  progress  of  civilization."  We  had  some  excel- 
lent writers  among  the  young  ladies.  Georgie  Dorman  al- 
ways secured  attention  when  she  read  her  composition.  She 
was  a  gifted  girl  and  a  most  remarkable  writer.  Ellen  Kim- 
ball,  Addie  Rea,  and  Julia  Spiller,  were  always  interesting. 
So  also  was  little  Lottie  Perkins.  We  wondered  how  so 
small  a  girl  could  write  so  large  a  composition. 

Many  incidents  in  our  school  life  come  to  me  with  great 
vividness.  I  commenced  the  study  of  Greek,  in  company 
with  Arthur  Merriam  and  Helen  McLoud.  Arthur  always 
seemed  to  me  to  be  more  interested  in  Helen  than  in  his 
Greek  grammar.  He  later  was  a  fine  scholar.  She  seemed 
to  get  hold  of  the  principles  of  a  new  language  by  instinct, 
and  learned  the  characters  from  sight.  Never  did  I  meet 
one,  whose  classical  insight  I  was  more  inclined  to  envy,  for 
Greek  was  to  me,  for  a  long  time,  a  dead  language.  We 
had  for  our  instructor  Austin  Hazen,  a  very  youthful  but 


REMINISCENT  ADDRESS.  1 05 

most  accomplished  teacher,  and  withal,  a  most  gifted  and 
beautiful  man.  Coburn  Porter  was  my  classmate  in  geome- 
try. He  was  a  very  modest  youth,  and  his  head  seemed  to 
be  too  far  ahead  of  his  shoulders.  I  do  not  remember  that 
he  ever  spoke  to  me  during  the  weeks  we  were  together. 
But  he  always  had  his  lessons.  I  thought  then,  and  time 
has  not  greatly  modified  my  opinion,  that  he  was  the  most 
remarkable  mathematician  I  had  ever  met.  His  figures  on 
the  board  were  faultless,  and  he  never  hesitated  or  tripped  in 
the  demonstration  of  his  propositions.  But  as  there  is  an  end 
to  all  things,  so  must  there  be  a  close  to  these  recollections. 
Graduation  day  came  at  last,  and  four  of  us  young  men  left 
the  academy  to  return  no  more.  Sidney  Merriam  and  N.  T. 
Kimball  went  to  Dartmouth  College,  and  Sam.  Fowler  and  I 
went  to  Amherst.  I  presume  we  all  made  eloquent  and  im- 
pressive addresses,  but  I  do  not  recall  them  now.  The  music 
for  the  occasion  was  furnished  by  a  quartette,  composed  of 
Mr.  Allis,  who  had  a  fine  bass  voice,  Mr.  Sumner  Perkins, 
Mr.  Winslow,  and  myself.  It  was  a  success,  and  elicited 
hearty  commendation,  which  was  to  me,  a  great  satisfaction, 
for  I  had,  from  my  connection  with  the  academy,  been  iden- 
tified with  its  musical  interests. 

One  incident  connected  with  the  evening  entertainment 
was  both  characteristic  and  amusing.  It  seemed  to  be  a 
proper  thing,  for  the  young  people  to  pair  off  at  such  an  im- 
portant epoch  in  their  lives.  Choice,  instinct,  and  natural 
selection,  helped  in  determining  the  selection,  with  the  most 
of  us.  But  none  of  these  sentiments  influenced  Sam.  Fowler. 
He  waited  until  all  the  young  ladies  had  been  provided  for, 
and  took  the  one  who  was  left.  After  he  had  walked  a 
reasonable  distance,  he  learned  that  the  aforesaid  young  lady 
lived  three  miles  away.  Accordingly  he  plodded  on  in 
silence  until  he  had  gone,  what  he  estimated,  was  half  the 
distance,  when  he  turned  back  with  the  remark,  "You  will  get 
home  as  soon  as  I  will,  so  I  will  bid  you  good  night."  Sam. 
is  now  living  alone  in  one  of  his  tenements  in  Danvers,  and  I 
am  not  informed  that  he  has  ever  started  to  walk  home  with 
a  young  lady,  since  the  memorable  night  of  his  graduation 
from  Topsfield  Academy. 

Fellow  schoolmates  and   friends  of  former   years.     This  is 


106  THE  TOPSFIELD    ACADEMY. 

one  of  the  most  memorable  and  delightful  occasions  of  our 
lives.  This  faultless  summer  day,  is  an  emblem  of  the  sun- 
shine and  gladness  in  our  hearts.  The  most  pleasing  recol- 
lections, come  thronging  back  to  our  memories,  and  we  live 
over  again  the  joys  of  our  youthful  days.  Faces  wreathed 
with  smiles,  come  out  of  the  shadows  of  the  past.  Forms, 
once  so  dear  to  us,  long  since  passed  within  the  veil,  come 
before  us  in  glad  review.  The  chain  of  friendship,  severed 
by  a  period  of  forty  years,  is  now  reunited,  never  again  to  be 
sundered,  not  even  by  death.  The  lines  of  toil,  and  care,  and 
age,  and  perchance  of  suffering,  are  furrowed  in  our  faces, 
but  still  the  lineaments  of  youth  remain.  But  our  hearts  are 
as  youthful,  and  beat  with  as  cordial  sympathy  for  each 
other,  and  loving  loyalty  for  the  old  Academy,  as  when  we 
parted,  nearly  half  a  century  ago.  Do  not  our  hearts  burn 
within  us,  as  we  here  review,  'mid  smiles  and  tears,  the  long 
procession  of  the  years. 


ADDRESS. 

JUDGE    ISRAEL    W.    ANDREWS,    OF   DANVERS,    MASS. 


MR.  PRESIDENT,  LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN: — 

I  had  rather  be  excused,  than,  at  this  late  hour,  endeavor 
to  interest  you  with  what  I  might  have  to  say,  but,  for  the 
few  minutes  allowed,  I  shall  have  to  amputate  the  speech  I 
should  ordinarily  make,  and  so  perhaps  you  will  remain  un- 
til I  am  done. 

Yes,  I  was  a  student  of  Topsfield  Academy  in  1840-41, 
and  I  remember  well,  and  with  great  pleasure,  many  of  the 
associations  of  that  day. 

It  happened  on  election  day,  that  I  was  allowed  the  privil- 
ege of  waiting  upon  a  young  lady.  It  seems  that  there  was 
a  decided  objection,  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Healy,  in  regard  to 
the  young  men  waiting  upon  young  ladies,  and  that  reminds 
me  of  a  little  incident  that  occurred  in  New  Hampshire.  I 
went  there  to  school  before  I  came  here.  It  was  a  Baptist 
Theological  School  and  Academy — of  course  I  went  to  the 
Academy.  My  father  was  a  minister,  but  I  never  had  any 
inclination  in  that  direction.  In  fact,  from  what  I  have  seen 
sometimes,  I  have  thought  that  a  theological  education 
could  be  well  dispensed  with,  even  by  our  ministers. 

I  was  going  to  say,  that  in  this  incident  I  met  a  Professor 
gallanting  around  with  two  young  ladies,  and  he,  the  next 
morning,  gave  me  a  very  severe  reprimand  for  being  out — 
it  was  Sunday. 

Well,  it  afterwards  happened  that  I  was  waiting  upon  a 
young  lady,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  discovered,  I  was  promptly 
called  before  the  Board,  and  asked  if  I  did  not  know  the 
rules  of  the  school.  I  replied  that  I  knew  them  all  very  well. 
"Well,"  said  the  Professor,  who  was  also  the  President,  "it  is 
against  the  rules  of  the  school,  for  a  young  man  to  wait  upon 

(107) 


108  THE  TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

a  young  lady."  I  asked  him  if  it  was  any  more  against  the 
rules  of  the  school,  for  a  young  man  to  wait  upon  a  young 
lady,  than  it  was  for  a  professor.  The  result  was  that  I  was 
finally  suspended,  but  not  for  that  reason  alone,  however. 

But  to  be  serious.  I  have  a  single  word  more  to  add.  I 
would  like  to  say  to  all  who  hear  me,  that,  ahead  of  wonder- 
ful achievements,  there  is  a  depth  of  thought — a  vastness  in 
the  direction  of  man's  investigation  of  true  study. 

I  wrote  a  lecture  once,  or  tried  to,  and  thought  I  did,  up- 
on, "What  Constitutes  Good  Scholarship,  or,  a  Student's 
Work,  and  What  He  Should  Do."  That  lecture  is  some- 
where around  the  house  now.  I  have  not  seen  it  for  many 
years,  although  I  have  a  lot  of  books  and  other  collections, 
and  presume  it  is  there,  but  I  think,  that  in  view  of  the  vast- 
ness  of  the  problems  that  are  arising,  that  our  school  educa- 
tion is  becoming  comparatively  of  little  importance.  I  say 
this,  and  I  say  more — I  think  myself,  that  the  academical 
institution,  is  the  equal,  if  not  the  superior,  of  our  high 
schools.  And  it  is  not  because  I  am  in  the  least  prejudiced. 
It  is  simply  what  I  have  thought  from  my  experience. 

Now,  we  have  a  high  school  in  Danvers,  and  the  people 
of  Topsfield  have  become  acquainted  with  the  course  pur- 
sued, as  they  have  sent  a  number  of  their  children  there. 

I  think  there  was  more  freedom  of  thought,  in  the  acad- 
emical institution,  and  thereby  securing,  better  scholars 
than  we  get  now.  At  the  present  time  they  are  full  of  friv- 
olous matters,  and  sometimes  those  that  are  dangerous  to 
their  own  health,  and  to  the  character  of  humanity. 


ADDRESS. 


GEORGE    CONANT,     OF    PASADENA,     CALIFORNIA. 


MR.  PRESIDENT: — 

I  did  not  know  that  I  would  be  called  upon  to  speak,  and 
I  don't  know  as  I  can  interest  the  audience,  unless,  perhaps, 
I  refer  to  a  debating  society  we  had  forty-five  years  ago. 

We  had  such  men  in  the  society  as  Rev.  Anson  McLoud, 
Charles  Holmes,  Sam.  Todd,  and  B.  P.  Adams.  On  a  certain 
occasion  the  question  was  rather  interesting  to  me,  and  I, 
being  President,  and  wishing  to  talk  on  the  question,  left  the 
chair  to  Rev.  Mr.  Bailey.  The  debate  went  on  in  a  certain 
line,  and  Squire  Holmes,  as  we  used  to  call  him,  being 
always  very  ready  to  talk,  and  being  also  very  sarcastic,  and 
sometimes  a  little  obnoxious,  put  a  great  many  restrictions 
on  the  ruling  of  Mr.  Bailey.  Well,  Mr.  Bailey  took  offence, 
and  concluded  he  had  better  give  up  his  position  as  Presi- 
dent, and  so,  while  Mr.  Holmes  was  interjecting  a  little  of 
his  bitter  talk,  Mr.  Bailey  stepped  down,  and  stepped  out  of 
the  chair.  As  he  went  down  the  steps,  Square  Holmes 
flourished  his  hands  and  said,  Sic  transit  gloria  mundi  (Thus 
passeth  the  glory  of  the  world),  which  made  the  incident 
quite  dramatic. 

At  another  time  in  the  society,  Mr.  B.  P.  Adams,  a  prom- 
inent merchant  of  Topsfield,  and  a  strong  supporter  of  the 
academy,  was  called  upon  to  speak. 

Now  Mr.  Adams  was  a  good  talker  and  a  ready  debater, 
but  on  this  occasion  he  did  not  seem  ready,  and  rose  to  ex- 
cuse himself  from  speaking,  with  much  deliberation.  He 
said  he  thought  he  could  not  give  a  better  reason,  for  not 
responding  to  the  call  to  speak,  than  to  quote  the  dying 
words  of  Ex-President  Adams,  by  saying,  "This  is  the  last 
of  the  Adams's;"  and  had  he  sat  down  then  and  there,  as  it 
was  remarked  afterward,  Mr.  Adams  would  have  made  the 
greatest  hit  of  his  life,  but,  alas  !  the  supreme  opportunity 
passed,  and  the  "last  of  the  Adams's"  went  on  with  a  long 
speech. 


ADDRESS. 


REV.   ALFRED   NOON,    OF   BOSTON,   MASS. 


It  is  difficult  to  conceive  how  my  name  was  discovered 
upon  the  annals  of  the  Academy,  and  it  must  have  needed 
a  very  close  scrutiny,  on  the  part  of  the  Secretary,  to  iden- 
tify the  name  with  the  present  speaker. 

An  effort  was  made  the  other  day  to  ascertain  how  it  came 
about  that  I  was  a  student  of  the  Academy.  Some  of  you 
may  remember  the  occasion  of  my  being  here,  was,  because 
I  was  a  boy  living  away  from  home  with  Rev.  Stephen  G. 
Hiler,  who  came  from  the  old  Batchelder  place,  up  town,  to 
occupy,  for  a  few  months,  the  pulpit  of  the  Methodist  church 
and  the  Methodist  parsonage. 

During  that  time,  somehow,  I  seemed  to  have  been  en- 
rolled as  a  student  in  the  Academy,  possibly  to  relieve  Mr. 
Sumner  Perkins,  who  was  then  teaching  the  Centre  school, 
here  on  the  green.  There  are  two  or  three  reminiscences 
connected  with  these  years  that  come  to  me. 

There  were  a  good  many  people  in  the  town  who  differed 
from  some  of  us.  We  all  have  our  notions,  but  they  dif- 
fered from  us  in  publicly  acknowledging  theirs.  One  Sun- 
day, the  bell  of  the  Congregational  church,  of  the  Methodist 
church,  and  of  the  old  Academy,  all  rang  for  religious  ser- 
vices. It  seems  that  in  a  few  hours  the  people  expected  the 
world  to  come  to  an  end.  They  made  a  mistake,  however, 
as  we  all  do,  frequently,  in  these  days.  The  occurrence  was 
one  a  great  many  of  the  residents  will  recall. 

I  remember  well,  the  lessons  in  geography,  at  the  Acade- 
my, taught  by  Mrs.  Healy,  I  think,  and  what  interesting 
times  we  had,  studying  the  well  remembered  wall  maps.  I 
was  one  of  the  younger  students,  and  remember  my  experi- 

(iio) 


A    SENTIMENT   OFFERED.  I  I  I 

ences  in  learning  long  division,  when  we  would   work   some 
simple  example,  and  make  it  nearly  as  long  as  ourselves. 

I  did  not  have  time  to  look  up  the  old  catalogue  of  the 
Academy  in  my  private  library,  and  hunt  up  the  list  of  the 
names  of  my  fellow  students,  but  here,  today,  I  am  meeting 
many  of  them,  and  have  renewed  old  acquaintances  and 
friendships.  I  am  very  glad  of  the  opportunity  of  seeing, 
today,  the  students  of  the  time-honored  Topsfield  Academy. 


SENTIMENT. 


EUGENE   TAPPAN,    ESQ.,    OF   BOSTON,    MASS. 


Mr.  Tappan  offered  the  following  sentiment,  time  not  per- 
mitting an  intended  address  : — 

"I  prize  Topsfield  Academy,  for  cultivating  a  love  of 
Nature,  a  spirit  of  original  investigation,  and  a  taste  for  liter- 
ature." 


AULD   LANG   SYNE. 

Parting  Song. 

Should  auld  acquaintance  be  forgot, 

And  never  brought  to  mind ; 
Should  auld  acquaintance  be  forgot, 

And  songs  of  auld  lang  syne. 
For  auld  lang  syne  we  meet  to-day, 

For  auld  lang  syne ; 
To  sing  the  songs  our  fathers  sang 

In  days  of  auld  lang  syne. 

We've  passed  through  many  varied  scenes, 

Since  youth's  unclouded  day ; 
And  friends,  and  hopes,  and  happy  dreams, 

Time's  hand  has  swept  away ; 
And  voices  that  once  joined  with  ours, 

In  days  of  auld  lang  syne, 
Are  silent  now,  and  blend  no  more 

In  songs  of  auld  lang  syne. 

Here  we  have  met,  here  we  may  part 

To  meet  on  earth  no  more ; 
And  we  may  never  sing  again 

The  cherished  songs  of  yore ; 
The  sacred  songs  our  fathers  sang, 

In  days  of  auld  lang  syne ; 
We  may  not  meet  to  sing  again 

The  songs  of  auld  lang  syne. 

But  when  we've  crossed  the  sea  of  life, 

And  reach  the  heav'nly  shore, 
We'll  sing  the  songs  our  fathers  sing, 

Transcending  those  of  yore  ; 
We'll  meet  to  sing  diviner  strains 

Than  those  of  auld  lang  syne ; 
Immortal  songs  of  praise  unknown 

In  days  of  auld  lang  syne. 


(112) 


LETTERS   RECEIVED. 


Among  the  many  Letters  received  from  former  teachers 
and  students,  the  following  have  been  selected  as  having 
historical  or  biographical  interest. 


LITTLE  BOAR'S  HEAD,  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 
MR.  GEO.  F.  Dow,  July  14,  1897. 

Com.  Topsfield  Historical  Society. 

Dear  Sir: — I  am  in  receipt  of  your  kind  favor  of  the  loth 
inst.,  inviting  me  to  be  present  at  the  reunion  of  the  teachers 
and  students  of  Topsfield  Academy.  I  regret  to  say,  it  will 
not  be  practicable  for  me  to  be  present  on  that  interesting 
occasion.  The  year  ending  55  years  ago,  which  I  passed  as 
Principal  of  the  Academy,  is  one  full  of  pleasant  memories. 
Among  the  students,  there  were  many  young  men  and 
young  women,  who  went  forth  to  occupy  important  and 
useful  stations  in  life.  Among  others,  Orne  and  Bomer; 
the  former  died  young,  the  latter  became  a  successful  phy- 
sician in  Ipswich,  Massachusetts,  and  died  respected  and 
honored  in  the  middle  of  a  promising  career ;  Augustus 
Perkins,  now  in  full  practice  in  the  medical  profession  in 
the  city  of  Boston ;  Bartlett,  for  some  years  a  successful 
physician,  later  engaged  in  business,  now  residing  in  Brook- 
line,  Massachusetts,  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  well  earned 
otium  cum  dignitate\  Gould,  many  years  an  able  and  ac- 
complished teacher,  and  afterward  a  merchant  in  the  city  of 
Boston.  There  were  others  of  whose  career  I  know  less ; 
John  Friend  is  remembered  for  his  marvellous  ability  in 

("3) 


114  THE  TOPSFIELD    ACADEMY. 

mathematics.     There  were  Ives,  and  Reed,  and  Bradstreet, 
and  Ruggles,  all  loyal  and  devoted  students. 

I  regret  deeply  that  I  shall  not  be  able  to  be  with  you  at 
the  reunion.  But  my  heart  and  sympathies  will  be  there, 
and  I  cannot  doubt  that  the  occasion  will  be  one  of  great 
satisfaction  and  pleasure. 

Believe  me  very  truly  yours, 

EDMUND  F.  SLAFTER. 


WATERLOO,  IOWA,  JULY  22,  1897. 
MR.  GEO.  FRS.  Dow, 

Dear  Sir: — Your  note  of  request  that 

I  furnish  some  reminiscences  of  Topsfield  Academy,  for  the 
reunion,  on  Aug.  12,  was  duly  received.  My  introduction  to 
Topsfield  Academy  was  in  the  spring  of  1830. 

Principal  Vose  was  a  man  of  forty-five  or  fifty  years,  I 
judge,  and  Miss  Ann  Cofran,  the  Preceptress,  of  perhaps 
thirty-five  or  forty  years.  They  were  both  very  sedate,  and 
very  devout,  and  the  religious  character  of  the  school  was  al- 
ways prominent. 

The  young  gentlemen  occupied  the  lower,  and  the  young 
ladies  the  upper  room  ;  but  at  morning  and  evening  prayers, 
rhetorical  exercises,  etc.,  all  went  into  the  upper  room,  which 
was  divided  strictly  by  an  invisible,  but  effective  line  between 
the  two  sexes.  If  there  was  any  whispering  or  noise  in 
prayer  time,  Mr.  Vose  could,  with  great  facility,  open  his 
eyes  and  look  around  the  room,  without  interrupting  the 
thread  of  his  petition.  But  the  general  decorum  of  the 
school  was  good,  and  he  was  seldom  disturbed  in  this  way. 
Though  he  was  a  college  graduate,  and  an  A.  M.,  Mr.  Vose 
was  not  a  very  thorough  scholar,  especially  in  Latin. 

In  his  Latin  class  were  the  late  Rev.  Josiah  Peabody,  mis- 
sionary to  Persia,  and  the  Rev.  W.  A.  Peabody,  Professor  of 
Latin  in  Amherst  College,  where  he  died  in  less  than  a  year 


LETTER    FROM    REV.    M.    K.    CROSS.  115 

after  his  inauguration.  They  frequently  had  occasion  to  ask 
some  question  about  the  lesson,  which  the  teacher  generally 
informed  them  he  would  "look  up,"  but  which  the  pupils  sel- 
dom, if  ever,  heard  of  again. 

I  believe  I  was  something  of  a  favorite  with  Mr.  Vose ;  for 
he  used  to  call  on  me  frequently  to  hear  a  class  recite,  and  to 
help  him  in  other  ways.  He  had  one  particularly  fractious 
boy,  whom  he  often  found  it  difficult  to  manage.  The  mast- 
er was  not  a  very  genial  man,  and  was,  by  nature,  quick  tem- 
pered, which  made  it  all  the  more  difficult  for  him  to  get  on 
pleasantly  with  the  aforesaid  boy.  On  one  occasion,  the  lad 
was  unusually  obstinate,  and  I  was  placed  in  the  seat  behind 
him  to  watch  and  guard  him.  He  was  still  much  more  in- 
clined to  have  his  own  way  than  to  yield  to  authority ;  and 
when  the  Principal  came  to  castigate  him,  he  rose  up,  with  a 
ruler  in  his  hand,  to  strike  back,  and  might  have  dealt  the 
harder  blow  of  the  two,  if  I  had  not  caught  his  hand  and  re- 
strained him. 

At  another  time,  the  boy  was  outside  the  house  and  re- 
fused to  come  in  at  the  bidding  of  the  master;  when  we  were 
required  to  bring  him  in  by  main  strength.  The  boy  started 
at  the  top  of  his  speed,  and  we  after  him,  and  were  obliged 
to  take  him  by  his  arms  and  legs,  and  force  him  into  the  hall 
of  learning.  It  did  not  take  me  fifty  years  to  decide,  that  this 
sort  of  pedagogy  had  entirely  too  much  of  the  corporeal  in  it, 
and  that  it  was  about  as  much  of  a  punishment  to  the  boys 
who  caught  the  rogue,  as  to  him  who  was  caught.  That  in- 
tractable boy  is  now,  I  learn,  a  practising  lawyer  in  Boston. 

But  in  spite  of  these  unpleasant  incidents,  the  general  drift 
of  things  at  the  Academy  was  pleasant  and  profitable.  The 
instruction  was  not  of  a  high  order,  as  compared  with  the 
present  standard  in  academies  and  high  schools;  but  it  was 
much  better  than  nothing,  and  prepared  the  way  for  higher 
and  better  things.  There  were  certainly  some  very  choice 
spirits  in  Topsfield  Academy,  at  the  time  of  which  I  am  writ- 
ing, especially  in  the  upper  room,  with  whom  we  were  al- 
lowed to  have  but  little  intercourse.  Out  of  school  hours  we 
were  more  free  and  familiar,  and  when  we  met  to  sing,  and 
to  prepare  for  exhibition,  at  the  close  of  the  term,  we  were 
quite  social.  The  program,  on  one  of  these  occasions,  was 


Il6  THE  TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

a  very  choice  one,  and  I  distinctly  remember  some  of  the 
themes,  and  who  wrote  upon  them.  My  own  was  the  Very 
poetical  one  of  "Self-knowledge,"  founded  on  Pope's  familiar 
line,  "Man,  know  thyself,  all  wisdom  centres  here,"  and 
was  treated  in  the  pompous  style  of  the  famous  "Essay  on 
Man."  One  of  the  young  ladies  .had  for  a  motto,  the  pensive 
but  beautiful  lines  of  Goldsmith:  — 

"Vain,  very  vain,  my  weary  search  to  find 
The  bliss  which  centers  only  in  the  mind." 

Some  of  our  rides  and  rambles  on  Saturday  afternoons, 
over  the  hills  and  through  the  valleys,  were  charming,  and 
retain  their  delectable  fragrance  as  fresh  as  ever.  Several  of 
those  who  shared  them  have  gone  to  join  the  majority, — 
penetrare  ad plures,  even  in  Plutarch's  time, — but  some  re- 
main, whom  it  would  be  a  pleasure  to  greet,  if  such  a  pleasure 
were  permitted.  I  may  be  permitted  to  name  especially, 
among  the  living,  the  venerable  and  honored  Prof.  E.  D. 
Sanborn,  of  Dartmouth  College,  Rev.  George  Hood,  and 
Rev.  Benjamin  How,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ezra  Towne,  of  Topsfield, 
Mrs.  Clara  W.  Rose,  and  Mrs.  Eliza  F.  Stone,  of  Salem, 
Mrs.  Catharine  W.  Cook,  of  Andover,  Mrs.  Susan  N.  Tenney, 
of  Georgetown,  and  others.  One  of  the  "others,"  Mrs.  H. 
N.  Black,  of  Danvers,  I  had  the  singular  pleasure  of  meeting, 
two  years  ago,  at  the  house  of  her  sister,  in  the  city  where  I 
reside,  whom  I  had  not  seen  for  almost  fifty  years.  We  were 
seated  together  at  the  head  of  the  table,  of  course,  as  the 
oldest  of  the  company,  though  it  did  not  seem  to  us,  that 
day,  that  we  were  very  old,  as  indeed  we  are  not.  It  was  a 
rare  treat  to  run  over  the  names  and  history  of  those  who 
were  young,  and  full  of  hope,  when  we  were  also  young, 
some  of  whom  are  now  gone  to  the  other  side  of  the  river. 


"My  eyes  are  dim  with  childish  tears, 

My  heart  is  idly  stirred, 
For  the  same  sound  is  in  my  ears, 
Which  in  those  days  I  heard. 


LETTER   FROM   JACOB   P.    PALMER.  117 

Thus  fares  it  still  in  our  decay, 

And  yet  the  wiser  mind 
Mourns  less  for  what  age  takes  away, 

Than  what  it  leaves  behind. 

But  we  are  pressed  by  heavy  laws, 

And  often, — glad  no  more, — 
We  wear  a  face  of  joy,  because 

We  have  been  glad  of  yore." 


I  hope  and  trust  you   will  have  a  pleasant   and   profitable 
time  at  the  reunion,  and  would  remain, 

Very  truly  yours, 

M.  K.  CROSS. 


THE  CHELSEA. 

222  W.  Twenty -Third  St.,  New  York. 
MR.  GEO.  FRS.  Dow,  AND  Aug.  3,  '97. 

COMMITTEE  OF  THE  TOPSFIELD  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY, 

Gentlemen: — Although  I  have  not  received  from  you  a  cir- 
cular concerning  the  coming  celebration  of  Topsfield  Acade- 
my, I  have  seen  one  addressed  to  my  brother,  Julius  A. 
Palmer,  of  Boston,  and  I  take  the  liberty  to  write  to  you 
concerning  my  brief  connection  with  the  time  honored  insti- 
tution which  you  represent. 

I  think  it  was  about  the  year  1846,  that  I  was  a  pupil  at 
the  Academy  for  a  period  of  six  weeks.  It  was  in  the 
spring,  I  am  not  sure  of  the  year.  I  remember  the  names  of 
two  of  my  companions  at  the  Academy,  one  was  Cyrus 
Killam,  who  afterwards  had  his  name  changed,  by  Act  of 
General  Court,  to  Bartlett,  his  mother's  name.  He  became 
Dr.  Bartlett,  was  with  Dr.  Earle,  as  Assistant  Superintendent 
of  Insane  Asylum,  at  Northampton,  Mass.,  and  afterward 
Superintendent,  Insane  Asylum,  St.  Peter,  Minnesota.  He 
was  of  Boxford.  Another  was  Wm.  Augustus  Herrick,  of 


Il8  THE   TOPSFIELD   ACADEMY. 

Boxford,  afterwards,  for  many  years,  a   Boston    lawyer.     My 
family  lived  in  Boston  and  Boxford. 

At  the  time  when  I  attended  the  Academy,  I  lived  with 
my  grandfather,  Major  Jacob  Peabody,  at  Boxford,  E.  Parish. 
I  usually  rode  to  Topsfield  in  the  morning  and  walked  back 
to  Boxford  in  the  afternoon.  I  rode  on  the  Haverhill  and 
Salem  Stage  Coach,  driven  by  Mr.  Pinkham  and  Mr.  Hil- 
liard.  The  teacher's  name  I  do  not  remember,  but  I  liked 
him.  He  had  about  40  pupils,  but  receiving  a  call  to  a 
larger  field,  he  left  us,  and  the  Academy  was  abruptly  closed, 
much  to  my  regret. 

I  am,  dear  sirs,  very  truly  yours, 

JACOB  P.  PALMER. 


53  LEONARD  ST.,  NEW  YORK. 
MR.  GEO.  FR.  Dow,  COM.  Aug.  9th,  1897. 

Dear  Sir: — I  regret  that  imperative  engagements  pre- 
vent my  attendance  at  the  reunion  of  the  Academy  scholars, 
on  the  1 2th. 

Your  invitation  brings  back  a  flood  of  memories,  and  a 
longing  to  see,  once  again,  those  whose  names  are  familiar, 
but  whom  I  have  met  very  seldom,  if  at  all,  in  these  long  forty 
years.  In  infrequent  visits  to  my  native  town  of  Boxford, 
I  always  look  from  the  train  to  see  the  old  Academy  build- 
ing, and  wonder  if  its  interior  is  still  as  familiar  as  its  out- 
ward identity. 

Very  heartily,  I  send  an  individual  greeting  to  each  of  my 
old  schoolmates,  wishing  for  the  privilege  of  looking  again 
into  the  faces  which  the  years  must  have  changed  as  much 
as  they  have  changed  mine.  I  wish  more  heartily  that  the 
paths  which  have  been  so  strange ;  and  so  different ;  and 
so  separated ;  may  all  enter  at  last,  "into  the  everlasting 
kingdom  of  our  Lord  and  Savior,  Jesus  Christ."  "The  wish 
came — it  hath  passed  into  a  prayer." 

Sincerely  yours, 

M.  H.  DORMAN. 


LETTER  FROM  M.  R.  HUTCHINSON.  1 19 

MANNHEIM,  GERMANY. 

Aug.  2,  1897. 
TOPSFIELD  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  : — 

I  have  just  received  your  kind  invitation,  to  be  present  at 
the  reunion  of  the  Teachers  and  Students,  on  the  I2th  inst. 
I  should  gladly  like  to  be  with  you,  and  grasp  the  hands  of 
friends  of  long  years  ago,  and  review  again  the  scenes  to 
which  I  often  fondly  revert.  It  is  impossible  for  me  to  be 
with  you,  but  I  wish  you  a  hearty  good  time,  and  Topsfield 
Academy — may  it  long  live  and  prosper. 

Very  truly  yours, 

MYRON  R.  HUTCHINSON. 


Letters  were  also  received  from  Rev.  Charles  M.  Pierce, 
of  Auburn,  Mass. ;  Rev.  George  Hardy,  of  Sanquoit,  N.  Y. ; 
Rev.  Hiram  B  Putnam,  of  Derry,  N.  H. ;  Daniel  S.  Balch, 
of  Lyons,  Iowa  ;  Samuel  L.  Sawyer,  of  Danvers,  Mass. ;  Mrs. 
Sarah  (McMillan)  Parsons,  of  Derry,  N.  H. ;  Rev.  A.  B. 
Peabody,  of  Boxborough,  Mass. ;  Dean  Peabody,  Esq.,  of 
Lynn,  Mass.,  and  many  others. 


Perley,  : 
History  QJ 


70T8 
*  the  Tops fie Id  academy 


UNIVERSITY    r 


'C  04809 


